Northwestern State University’s Rodeo Team is preparing for its first collegiate competition since the program was reestablished, with 12 student-athletes set to compete at the Panola College Rodeo Sept. 24-26 in Tatum, Texas.

The competition will mark NSU’s debut in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Southern Region after the university announced the return of the Rodeo Team in May. The team has since grown to a roster of 14 student-athletes under Coach Cody DeMoss, with 12 set to compete at Panola College.

NSU will be represented in several events during its opening competition. The lineup includes four saddle bronc riders, five competitors in breakaway roping and two barrel racers. NSU will also field a team in team roping, while another NSU competitor will team rope with a student from Trinity Valley Community College.

“This is the very first college rodeo that they are going to get to go to,” DeMoss said. “This one being right here in Tatum, Texas, just 120 miles down the road, is a perfect warmup for us.”

DeMoss, a 14-time National Finals Rodeo bronc rider, was named coach as NSU reestablished the program. He said he sees potential across several events as the team enters its first competition.

“I think they’ve got a chance,” DeMoss said. “There are a couple bronc riders in here that have really got a chance to do some good, quite a few breakaway ropers. The horsemanship on quite a few of them is pretty good, so there’s some real talent.”

Allison Savant, a freshman industrial engineering major from Kenner, competes in breakaway and team roping. She said the team has been practicing nearly every night leading up to its first competition.

“I’m pretty confident. We have a pretty strong team,” Savant said. “Mr. Cody has definitely coached us up. We’ve been practicing almost every night. We have really good calves to practice on, so I think we are going to do a really good job.”

For Savant, the Panola College Rodeo will also be her first experience competing at the collegiate level.

“I feel like it’s going to be a fun experience,” Savant said. “First college rodeo, it’s not going to be like the high school rodeos. It’s going to be a little bit different, so I’m excited to see what’s new.”

Cyler Yeager, a freshman from Montana, competes in saddle bronc riding. He said the opportunity to join a new program helped draw him to NSU.

“When I first got to talking to Mr. Cody, he had a lot of great things to say, and I thought it would be great to be a part of a new organization,” Yeager said. “I thought I might be able to help create history and maybe be history myself.”

Yeager said he feels confident entering his first collegiate competition after weeks of preparation.

“We’ve been training pretty rigorously lately, hopping on horses and on the dummy over there and just trying my hardest to get ready for it,” Yeager said. “You’ve just got to trust in the motions that you know.”

The Panola College Rodeo opens a five-event fall schedule for the NIRA Southern Region. Following Panola, the region is scheduled to compete at Southwest Texas College Oct. 1-3 in Uvalde, Texas, Northeast Texas Community College Oct. 8-10 in Mount Pleasant, Texas, McNeese State University Oct. 30-31 in Lake Charles and Sam Houston State University Nov. 12-14 in Huntsville, Texas.

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ATHENS, La. — The Claiborne Parish Police Jury will hold a community meeting in Athens on Monday, Sept. 28, to discuss sales tax propositions that will appear before voters in November and their connection to residential trash collection and other services in rural areas of the parish.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Athens Town Hall on Highway 9.

The Police Jury announced the upcoming meeting after nearly 30 residents attended a similar community meeting in Summerfield on Monday evening.

According to information provided for the Athens meeting, officials plan to discuss how the current sales taxes work, residential trash pickup and what would occur if the proposed taxes are not approved. The parish currently provides weekly curbside household garbage collection in areas outside the incorporated municipalities of Homer and Haynesville.

Voters will consider two sales tax propositions on Nov. 3, 2026. One would authorize a 1.375% sales and use tax for 10 years beginning Jan. 1, 2027, with proceeds dedicated to solid waste collection and disposal and materials for maintaining public roads.

A separate proposition would authorize a 0.625% sales and use tax for 10 years for similar purposes within Sales Tax District No. 2.

The Athens meeting is intended to give residents an opportunity to learn more about the propositions, ask questions and provide input ahead of the November election.

Athens Area Meeting

Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 | 6 p.m.

Athens Town Hall, Highway 9

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Several historic buildings around the Homer Square are receiving new roofs and other improvements through a preservation initiative led by Main Street Homer.

Nanapuddins Antique Mall became the first downtown property to receive a new roof through the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant, which is supported in part by the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund.

According to Main Street Homer, grant funding covered a significant portion of the project costs, helping make the preservation work more attainable for the building owners.

Work has also recently been completed on a new roof at Gray’s Jewelry. Additional improvements are planned for other properties around the Square, with Michaels Sporting Goods slated to receive grant assistance for its upper windows.

The Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum and Corner Cup Coffee, a business expected to open on the Square, are next in line to receive new roofs through the program.

While roofing improvements may be less noticeable than other downtown renovations, Main Street Homer emphasized their importance in protecting historic structures. Preventing water intrusion helps preserve the architecture as well as the businesses, museums and organizations occupying the buildings.

Main Street Homer said pursuing grants and outside investment is an important part of its efforts to revitalize downtown, allowing property owners to undertake preservation projects while protecting the historic character of the Homer Square.

“One step at a time, we’re preserving Homer’s past and investing in its future,” the organization stated.

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By John Monzingo, Assistant Extension Agent

Even during a drought, homeowners want their lawns to remain attractive and healthy. While rainfall may be limited, proper mowing and watering practices can help strengthen turfgrass and reduce its susceptibility to heat stress, drought damage, and disease. To maintain a healthy, green lawn, it is essential to mow at the correct height and water at the proper time.

Mowing: Follow the One-Third Rule

When mowing your lawn, never remove more than the top one-third of the grass blade at a single mowing. Removing excessive leaf tissue can stress the plant, reduce root growth, and slow recovery during hot, dry conditions. Each turfgrass species has an ideal mowing height that promotes good health and appearance.

Step 1: Identify Your Grass Type

Knowing the type of grass growing in your lawn is the first step toward proper lawn care. Different grasses perform best at different mowing heights.

Step 2: Mow at the Recommended Height

The following are the recommended mowing heights after cutting for common turfgrasses found in North Louisiana:

Common Bermuda: 1¼ to 1½ inches

Hybrid Bermuda: ¾ to 1 inch

St. Augustine: 2 to 3 inches

Centipede: 1 to 2 inches

Bahia: 3 inches

Note: Bahia grass is not typically considered a turfgrass but is commonly found in North Louisiana lawns and pastures. Make small adjustments to your mower height when necessary to avoid removing too much leaf tissue at one time.

How to Measure Grass and Mower Height

To determine grass height:

Place a ruler vertically on the soil surface and measure to the tip of the grass blade.

To check mower height:

Place the mower on a flat, level surface, such as a driveway or concrete slab.

Measure from the ground to the cutting edge of the mower blade.

Watering: Timing and Amount Matter

Proper watering is just as important as proper mowing. Different turfgrass species have varying water requirements, but following a few basic principles can improve lawn health during dry weather.

Best time to water: Between 4:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

Why water in the morning? Early morning watering allows moisture to soak into the soil before temperatures rise, reducing water loss through evaporation. It also allows grass blades to dry quickly, helping to reduce the risk of fungal diseases that can occur when lawns remain wet overnight.

Water deeply and infrequently rather than applying light, frequent irrigations. Deep watering encourages deeper root development, which improves drought tolerance and overall turfgrass health.

By following proper mowing and watering practices, homeowners can help their lawns withstand drought conditions and maintain a healthier appearance throughout the growing season.

If you have questions about lawn care or other horticultural topics, contact the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service at 318-927-3110.

The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. No person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, or veteran status.

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Prosecutor Jim Colvin brings a felony jury trial conviction record to the District Attorney’s office that is unrivaled by any other candidate.

No other candidate comes close.

Colvin has well as over 30 years of successful business experience managing attorneys and staffs in multiple law offices.

That successful experience is very important in managing the three different parishes offices of the District Attorney, so that cases move as fast as possible to get the drug dealers and criminals off the streets.

Since returning to the courtroom as a felony prosecutor in 2022, Assistant District Attorney Colvin has tried multiple felony jury trials and has won unanimous verdicts of conviction in all of them.

In fact, two recent courtroom wins took a felon previously convicted of manslaughter and a major drug trafficking ring off the street, so they cannot harm our families and friends.

Paid for by the Jim Colvin Campaign

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CLAIBORNE PARISH, La. — Mostly dry and warm conditions are expected across Claiborne Parish through the weekend, with rain chances returning late Sunday and Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Wednesday will be sunny with a high near 93 degrees. Northeast winds will range from 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 64 and northeast winds around 5 mph.

Thursday will bring slightly cooler temperatures, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 89. Northeast winds will be around 5 mph. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 62.

Mostly sunny conditions return Friday, with a high near 92. Friday night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 65.

Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 94, followed by mostly cloudy skies Saturday night and a low around 66.

Similar conditions are expected Sunday, with partly sunny skies and a high near 94. A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms develops Sunday night, when temperatures will fall to around 66.

Rain chances increase slightly Monday, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise, skies will be mostly sunny with a high near 92.

The National Weather Service forecast indicates Claiborne Parish should remain dry through most of the weekend before scattered rain and thunderstorm chances return late Sunday into Monday.

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There’s no better place to celebrate Dolly Parton than the Louisiana town where one of her most beloved characters came to life.

This October 9–11, Natchitoches invites visitors to spend a weekend celebrating Dolly with Truvy’s Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration. Inspired by Dolly’s unforgettable role as Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias, the three-day celebration brings together music, movies, local businesses and plenty of pink for a weekend in the heart of Louisiana’s oldest city.

Natchitoches has long held a special connection to Steel Magnolias. The beloved film was shot in and around the city, and decades later, visitors still come to Natchitoches to experience the places that made the movie so memorable. This October, that connection takes center stage as the community celebrates Dolly’s legacy in true Natchitoches fashion.

The celebration begins Friday, October 9, with Dolly Bingo at the LSHOF at 5:30 p.m. Later that evening, channel your inner Dolly and head to Mama’s Blues Room for karaoke beginning at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, October 10, start the morning with Books & Butterflies from 8 a.m. to noon at the Natchitoches Farmers Market. The celebration continues throughout the day with Truvy’s Downtown Traipse, inviting visitors to explore Natchitoches’ historic downtown and experience Truvy’s Specials offered by participating businesses.

Saturday evening, tease up your hair and get ready for Truvy’s Big Hair Affair at Parkway Cinema 6 at 7 p.m. It’s a fitting way to celebrate a character, a movie and a little bit of Southern style that have become part of Natchitoches history.

The weekend wraps up Sunday, October 11, with a Blush & Bashful Brunch at Flying Heart Brewery beginning at 9 a.m.

While you’re here, make a weekend of it. Stroll the brick streets of the Natchitoches Historic District, shop local boutiques, enjoy Louisiana flavors, take in the beauty of Cane River and discover the filming locations that helped bring Steel Magnolias to the big screen. As Louisiana’s oldest city, Natchitoches offers the perfect backdrop for a weekend filled with history, Southern charm and plenty to explore.

Whether you’ve loved Dolly for decades, can quote Steel Magnolias from beginning to end, or simply need an excuse for a girls’ weekend in Natchitoches, Truvy’s Blush & Bashful Weekend is your invitation to celebrate friendship, Southern charm and the legacy of a woman whose talent and spirit have touched generations.

Pack something pink, bring your best big hair and join us October 9–11, 2026, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

For complete event information, updates and weekend details, visit Truvy’s Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration at Natchitoches.com. Visitors can also explore Natchitoches.com for lodging, dining, attractions and everything needed to plan a weekend getaway.

Lodging link: natchitoches.com/stay/
Calendar link: natchitoches.com/calendar/
Embedded event link: https://natchitoches.com/truvys-blush-bashful-weekend-a-dolly-parton-celebration/

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Twenty Claiborne Academy students in first through sixth grades traveled to Flowood, Mississippi, to represent the Rebels at the MAIS Overall Swim Meet, with several swimmers earning top finishes and points for the team.

In the first- through third-grade competition, Noah Abshire earned a pair of second-place finishes, taking second in the 25-yard breaststroke and second in the 50-yard freestyle.

Gunner Guillory placed sixth in the 25-yard backstroke. Guillory also joined Abshire, Riley Salmon and Canyon Salas to earn fifth place in the medley relay.

In the fourth- through sixth-grade competition, Rhett Ware placed sixth in the 50-yard backstroke, while McCree Abshire earned sixth place in the 50-yard breaststroke.

Claiborne Academy praised all 20 swimmers for their hard work leading up to the meet and for representing the school during the competition.

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The Lady Rebels are headed to South State after completing an undefeated run through district competition and capturing the district championship.

The Lady Rebels battled through their district schedule without a loss, securing the championship and earning the opportunity to continue their postseason run.

Following the district title, the team is now turning its attention toward the next stage of competition at South State.

The championship marks another milestone in a successful season for the Lady Rebels, who will look to carry their momentum into postseason play.

“Next stop: South State,” the team shared while celebrating the undefeated district championship.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is reminding hunters to carefully identify waterfowl before taking a shot as the state moves through its special teal season and prepares for Louisiana’s first special black-bellied whistling duck season.

Louisiana’s special teal season runs Sept. 19-27. During the nine-day season, hunters may harvest only blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal. The daily bag limit is six birds, with a possession limit of 18.

LDWF noted that identifying teal can sometimes be challenging, particularly when birds are in flight. Blue-winged teal have a large light-blue patch on the upper portion of the wing, while green-winged teal are the smallest of the dabbling ducks and have a green speculum. Cinnamon teal, which are extremely rare in Louisiana, are more similar in appearance to blue-winged teal than green-winged teal.

Another special season will follow in October. Louisiana’s first-ever special black-bellied whistling duck season will be held Oct. 3-11.

Only black-bellied whistling ducks may be harvested during the special season. Hunters will have a daily bag limit of four birds and a possession limit of 12. A free special permit is required to participate.

Black-bellied whistling ducks can be identified in flight by a wide white stripe on the upper surface of their wings and feet that extend beyond the tail. Adult birds typically have bright orange bills, pink feet and a chestnut-colored chest that transitions into a black belly. Juvenile birds may be more difficult to identify because they have grayish bills, less prominent pink coloring on their feet and lack the distinctive black belly seen on adults.

LDWF cautioned that other species of waterfowl may occupy the same habitats during both special seasons, making positive identification especially important.

“Know the season. Know the species. Know your target,” the department advised.

Hunters are encouraged to review identification materials and current Louisiana waterfowl regulations before heading into the field.

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As many of you know, I was adopted by my aunt and uncle, Laverne & Loyd Graf Jr., when I was 10 years old. They quickly became mom and dad for me. My biological mom, Alta Mae, was not capable of raising two young boys. After starting and struggling through the first grade in Rosenburg, Texas, I was failing school and they rescued me from Houston, Texas, and brought me to Mt. Pleasant just after Christmas. 

I was enrolled in Vivian Fowler School at that time and did extra work into the summer as I got caught up enough to be passed on to the second grade. It was also at this time that I started my youth baseball career in 1968 while spending the entire summer with Mom and Dad.

One place that holds a special place in my heart, as I spent many a day there, was my Dad’s ranch. Graf Brothers Ranch was a partnership between my Dad and his brother William Ed Graf (Uncle Bill). Uncle Bill was the proud owner of a trucking company in Ft. Worth and was basically a financial partner of the ranch more than anything else. 

He had two sons who would come to the ranch once every few months. One of these cousins, Matt, and I became close, as we both loved to hunt and fish. With our ranch having three different stock ponds loaded with bass, Matt and I basically taught ourselves how to bass fish. 

We both subscribed to Bassmaster Magazine and would read each one cover to cover while learning about new baits and techniques. Then when he would come to the ranch, we would go and apply what we learned. 

Those stock ponds were a great training ground for learning how to fish and understanding bass behavior. Matt and I shared some great times for years until we got into our teens. Then I got more involved in sports and those fishing get-togethers became few and far between. 

I still cherish those early childhood memories with Matt even though those trips dwindled over time as he also made fewer trips to the ranch. We’ve lost touch with each other over the years, but I’m sure he has fond memories like me.

One thing ranch life taught me was good work ethic. A ranch does not run itself as it takes a lot of man hours to keep things running smoothly. We weren’t what many would call a big ranch, but we did run anywhere from 100-150 head of cattle depending on the time of year. 

A ranch is a constant work in progress with doctoring cattle, building fences, working on barns, and cutting and hauling hay to make sure cattle were fed even when weather was bad. There are no days off when you own a cattle ranch. Cattle need attention and must be checked on daily, especially when cows were getting ready to calf. 

There was one job I absolutely hated! It’s what my Dad called “piling chunks.” On our ranch we owned both sides of the main road with one side all pastureland while the other side was half-timber and pasture. But over time Dad cleared some of the timber to create more pasture. 

We owned a large D9 bulldozer that Dad used to clear the timber. As he dropped trees on the ground, smaller limbs that fell off the trees had to be picked up. We would then pile them up in small burn piles. This is what dad referred to as “piling chunks!” This process was hard work and took many hours over several weeks to get the job done.

There are many things that shaped me as a person, but the lessons I learned from growing up on a ranch were invaluable. My Dad was a man of few words and was not touchy-feely. He never really shared his personal feelings, but he did believe in hard work and taught me the value of this concept and how it builds character. 

The ranch for me was a training ground on not just hard work, but on developing my skills as an angler and a hunter. It gave me the freedom to learn how to hunt deer and squirrels and how to catch a bass.  

The number of hours I spent on my own in the woods and around our stock ponds starting at the age of 10 was endless. Most kids today don’t know how to be by themselves all day, making one cast after another and learning how to catch a bass. 

Kids today don’t grow up sitting on a single 2×6 board nailed between two limbs in a tree for deer hunting. They’ve never built a duck blind on the bank of a stock pond and enjoyed a good hunt, and when you shot a duck over the water, you had to wait until the wind blew the duck to the bank so you could retrieve it. 

Kids today would consider the work I did as kid a form of child abuse. Again, my parents did not sugar coat anything. Love, while not openly expressed much in our family, was understood. They had goals and expectations for both me and my brother whether it was a job to be done or school. 

We never did without anything that was essential. My Mom and Dad provided for us as a family and made sure my brother and I had everything we needed to not only enjoy life, but to be successful.

I literally would not trade anything for the time I had growing up on Graf Brothers Ranch, as it taught me everything I needed to succeed in whatever path I chose for the rest of my life.   

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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On Sept. 23, 2016, an unusual item went up for auction in Los Angeles: the cremated remains of famed author Truman Capote.

Capote, best known for “In Cold Blood” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” died in 1984 at the age of 59. His ashes had been kept by Joanne Carson, a close friend of Capote and former wife of “Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson.

The ashes were housed in a carved Japanese wooden box and were offered as part of Julien’s Auctions’ “Icons & Idols: Hollywood” sale. The auction house estimated the remains at $4,000 to $6,000.

When the auction concluded the following day, Capote’s ashes sold for $43,750 to an anonymous buyer. The sale attracted interest from potential buyers in the United States as well as Russia, Germany, China and South America.

The ashes were not the only unusual Capote memorabilia offered at the auction. His clothing, prescription bottles and other personal belongings were also sold.

According to the auction house, Capote had told Carson that he did not want his ashes to simply sit on a shelf, making the unusual auction an especially fitting final chapter to the author’s colorful public life.

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[jsllc_giveaway_form slug=”dollyparton2026″]

The Parish Journals of Louisiana are giving one statewide reader the opportunity to enjoy a special weekend in Natchitoches Parish during the Dolly Parton Celebration.

One qualifying reader will receive a $600 travel package to help make the trip possible.

The prize package includes:

• $300 Food Card
• $200 Travel Cash
• $100 Gas Card

The winner will be selected from the statewide pool of eligible qualifiers on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.

The getaway is intended for the winner to visit Natchitoches Parish during the Dolly Parton Celebration weekend, Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.

Events being planned for the weekend include Dolly Bingo at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Dolly Karaoke, downtown dining and drink specials, the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival, the Creole Festival at St. Augustine Church, Butterflies and Books at the Natchitoches Farmers Market, Steel Magnolias-themed activities, shopping and entertainment along Front Street, Truvy’s Big Hair Affair on the riverbank and a Blush & Bashful Brunch.

Some celebration events remain tentative and individual schedules, locations and activities may change.

Each participating Journal will have its own signup link, but all eligible qualifiers will be combined into one statewide pool from which the winner will be selected.

There is no cost to participate.

Every eligible qualifier who completes the registration process will also receive a Lifetime Free Subscription to the Journal through which the reader qualified, delivered directly to the email address provided during registration.


Contest Rules

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I met a sentence the other day that has been bothering me—in a good way.

“God, the master of time, never gives the future.”

Read that again. Did your mind immediately go to the future? Mine did.

I have plans for today. Plans for tomorrow. Appointments, meetings, deadlines, things I need to remember, and several things I have already forgotten. All of them are carefully placed on my calendar. Notice the possessive pronoun.

My calendar.

That is how we talk, as though we own Tuesday. We look at a little square on a screen three weeks from now and say, “I have something that day.”

Maybe.

As we say in the South, “The Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.”

Calendars are good things. Planning is responsible. But putting something on a calendar does not mean we possess the day. God has given us this moment. The next one remains in his hands. One of the hardest skills in life is learning to be fully present in the moment we have. We have two favorite ways of avoiding it.

The first is the past.

We call them “the good old days.” The funny thing about the good old days is that when we were living through them, we complained about them too. Personally, I vote for the late 1970s—but only after the leisure suit phase. There are some things even nostalgia cannot redeem.

We remember our younger years as simpler times, conveniently forgetting that we were younger, considerably less wise, and occasionally wearing polyester. Sometimes we look backward because we regret mistakes. Sometimes because we miss people. Sometimes because we realize we were standing in a wonderful moment and didn’t recognize how wonderful it was until it was gone.

Our other escape route is the future. We worry about everything we have to do. We stare at our calendar and wonder who put all that stuff on there, conveniently ignoring the fact that most of the appointments were made by us.

Or we are waiting for something wonderful.

At one point, I was looking ahead to the possibility of praying the invocation at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. That was exciting. So there I was, supposedly contemplating the spiritual discipline of living in the present while simultaneously thinking about the 1970s, imagining a future event, examining my calendar—and receiving texts from church staff reminding me of a couple of things I needed to do. I was apparently fully present in about four different decades at once.

It was a busy moment. And now it is gone. That may be the spiritual lesson.

The only moment in which you can love somebody is this one. The only moment in which you can pray is this one. The only moment in which you can notice grace is this one. The only moment in which you can actually live is this one.

We remember the past. We prepare wisely for the future. But we receive life from God now.

So try something. For the next two minutes, be completely present. Don’t revisit yesterday. Don’t rehearse tomorrow. Don’t check your phone. Don’t mentally reorganize your calendar. Just be here.

Now.

If you make it the full two minutes, congratulations. You may already be more spiritually mature than I am. If you don’t, notice which direction your mind traveled.

Did you go backward or forward?

I have a theory that I can come pretty close to guessing your age by which direction you went. When we’re young, we keep asking, “What’s next?” As we get older, we increasingly ask, “Remember when? “Faith may teach us to ask a different question:

“God, what are you doing right here?”

Because God, the master of time, has not given us tomorrow.

But he has given us this moment.

And this moment is enough.

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Hans Riegel was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1893.  After completing primary school, he began an apprenticeship as a confectioner, a candymaker.  During World War I, Hans fought for the Germans.  After the war, he returned to candy making and was hired by the Heinen confectionery company in Kessenich.  On December 13, 1920, Hans left the Heinen company and founded his own candy company.  His capital for his new venture included one sack of sugar, a marble slab, a chopper, a masonry stove, a copper kettle, and a roller.  It was a small operation compared to what he was used to at the Heinen company.  Working out of his small home at Bergstraße 37 in Bonn, Hans was only able to make about 110 pounds of hard candy per day.  As soon as a batch was ready to sell, Hans’s wife Gertrude loaded the candy into a basket on her bicycle and hand-delivered the sweets to customers.  Business was not growing as quickly as Hans had hoped.  He knew he needed a unique product to bring in funds to allow him to expand his business.  But what? 

Hans’s target demographic was children, so he thought back to the things that made him happy as a child.  In the late 1800s and early 1900s, showmen brought captive bears into towns to perform for passersby who would give them coins.  The bears were street performers.  The bears walked upright and performed numerous tricks, but the one the children enjoyed most, according to the number of coins taken in, was when the bears would dance as the showmen kept a beat on the tambourine.  They were called Tanzbären, or dancing bears.  In 1922, Hans used his fond memories to mold his candy into the shape of a dancing bear.  Hans shaped his bears with four outstretched limbs so they could sit upright or could stand on all four paws.  Children often played with the bears before eating them.  Hans created an edible toy.             

Sales of the dancing bears quickly exceeded Hans’s expectations.  By 1923, Gertrude could no longer keep up with demand on her bicycle, so Hans purchased the company’s first delivery automobile.  Hans’s candy went on sale in nearby shops and gradually expanded outward.  By 1930, Hans’s candy was available throughout Germany.  By 1933, Hans employed 400 people.  Production stopped during World War II due to the lack of supplies.  Hans died in March 1945, six months before the war ended.  Following the war, Gertrude managed operations until two of her sons, Hans Jr. and Paul Riegel, took over management of the company.  They built the company into a worldwide enterprise who employs about 8,500 workers in 16 factories in 11 countries who make more than 1,000 different sweet treats.  Their top seller is still the product Hans designed after the dancing bears that he remembered from his childhood.  Earlier I said Hans produced hard candy, but the dancing bears were something altogether different.  You may not have heard the word Tanzbären, but it is likely that you or someone you know has enjoyed Haribo’s gummy bears.

 Sources:

1.     “Hans Riegel,” Kessenichy ist Kult, accessed September 13, 2026, https://www.kessenich-ist-kult.de/kessenich-herz-des-bonner-suedens/personen-der-geschichte/hans-riegel/.

2.     “Haribo – About Us,” Haribo.com, accessed September 13, 2026, https://www.haribo.com/en-us/about-us/history.

© 2026 Brad Dison. All rights reserved. Remember This? is distributed for licensed publication only.

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Janice Evans Jackson
August 30, 1956 – September 15, 2026
Visitation: 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday, September 25, Memorial Funeral Home
Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 26, Haynesville United Pentecostal Church.

Claiborne Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.

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On July 1, 2025, Shemarcus Lewis of Shreveport shot and killed his ex-wife, Rochelle Lewis of Haynesville, while their two minor children were in the family home on Spring Street in Haynesville, Louisiana. Shemarcus Lewis had been previously released from prison in Caddo Parish on Caddo domestic abuse charges involving his ex-wife and was under a Caddo Parish domestic protective order that prohibited him from being near his ex-wife. 

Earlier during the day of July 1, 2025, Shemarcus Lewis purchased a Stoeger 9mm pistol second hand, along with a box of cartridges; and at approximately 10:00 p.m. that same evening, he knocked on the door of his ex-wife’s Spring Street home, walked past his then 14-year-old daughter, and entered the back bathroom where he shot his ex-wife multiple times. After leaving the house, he led police on a high-speed chase that ended with him wrecking his car in the median of I-20 near the Dixie Inn exit. While police were approaching the vehicle, Shemarcus Lewis attempted to take his own life with the same pistol that he used to shoot his ex-wife. His attempted suicide was unsuccessful.

A Claiborne Parish grand jury subsequently returned an indictment against Shemarcus Lewis, charging him with Second Degree Murder under La. R.S. 14:30.1. After lengthy pre-trial discovery and sanity commission proceedings, Lewis was set for trial by jury to commence on September 21, 2026. Just days before trial, Lewis chose to exercise his right to plead guilty as charged to one count of Second Degree Murder; and he did so before Judge Walter May and numerous members of the victim’s family on September 17, 2026. 

The only sentence for Second Degree Murder under the statute is life imprisonment without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Therefore, sentencing delays were waived, and Judge May sentenced Lewis to life in prison without parole. 

 Claiborne Parish felony prosecutor Jim Colvin handled the prosecution for the State. He said, “The victim’s family and law enforcement are very pleased with the result of this prosecution, and although children lost a mother and siblings lost a sister, we hope and pray that this conviction will bring the family closure and allow them to move forward. This was a terrible tragedy that can never be explained, and the defendant obviously did not want to face a Claiborne Parish jury.” 

The District Attorney’s office would like to extend its gratitude to the investigating officers of the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Haynesville Police Department, EMS first responders, the Minden Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and thoroughness during their investigations gave the district attorney’s office all the information and evidence it needed to successfully bring Lewis to justice.

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On September 8, 2026, Christopher Brinson of Haynesville, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to one (1) count of Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile [La. R.S. 14:81(H)(2)]. Under this statute, the maximum sentence is 25 years at hard labor, and Brinson accepted sentencing of 25 years, five (5) suspended, for a total hard labor sentence of 20 years, of which he must serve 85% of his sentence. Brinson was also ordered to forever refrain from contacting the victim either directly or indirectly and that he would have to register as a sex offender upon his release from incarceration. The victim and her family were involved in every step of the prosecution and sentencing recommendation proposed by the State.

 Assistant District Attorney Jim Colvin, who prosecuted the case for the State said, “Sex crimes involving juveniles has and will forever be a priority of this office, even though these types of crimes are the most difficult cases for any prosecutor to work. I am very pleased that we were able to get justice in this case for the victim and her family.”

The District Attorney’s office would like to extend its gratitude to Officer Shane Huffstetler, formerly of the Haynesville Police Department, for his thorough investigative work in bringing the criminal to justice.

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CLAIBORNE PARISH, La. — A 77-year-old visually impaired woman was found safe Monday evening after an extensive search in a rural area of Claiborne Parish involving personnel and specialized resources from the Claiborne and DeSoto parish sheriff’s offices.

According to the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from DPSO’s Special Operations and Readiness Division at approximately 4:30 p.m. Sept. 14. The woman had been missing from her residence since approximately 10:30 a.m.

Before DeSoto Parish personnel arrived, Claiborne Parish deputies had established a search area and gathered information surrounding the woman’s disappearance. DPSO said that early work allowed assisting teams to quickly concentrate their resources on the surrounding terrain.

Working alongside Claiborne Parish deputies, members of DPSO’s Joint Special Operations Team deployed K-9 teams, multiple drones and the department’s Air 1 aircraft.

At approximately 6:20 p.m., the woman was located in a wooded, rural area near her residence, nearly eight hours after she was reported missing. She suffered minor scrapes, bruising and dehydration and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

The search also provided DPSO an opportunity to deploy several resources coordinated through its recently formed Special Operations and Readiness Division, or SORD. The division brings specialized personnel, technology and equipment together to provide a coordinated response during critical incidents.

Within SORD, the Joint Special Operations Team combines resources from DPSO’s K-9, FAST and Aviation units. The agency said the approach allows tracking dogs to search on the ground while drones and Air 1 provide aerial support when needed.

DPSO’s recently established Real Time Crime Center can also support operations by monitoring resources as incidents unfold and relaying information to personnel in the field.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson praised the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office for its work before and during the joint operation, particularly deputies’ early efforts to gather information and establish the search area.

The sheriff also thanked personnel from both agencies for working together toward the successful outcome.

The search ultimately ended with the result authorities and the woman’s family had hoped for — bringing her home safely.

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On September 8, 2026, Jesse Thomas of Haynesville, Louisiana, became the last of 23 RICO defendants to plead guilty as charged to the crime of racketeering for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization that had operated in Claiborne Parish since 2018. Thomas’s guilty plea followed pleas from 22 other co-conspirators, including Demontre Robinson, Dedarian Robinson, Ashley Morgan, Cheryl Bragg, John Michael Jackson, Corey Scott, Jelisha Warren, Demond Maddox, Nicholas Willis, Falante Hill, O’rillian Guidry (of Los Angeles, California), Deonte Frazier, Derrick Bradford, Rontrell Sturdivant, Dexter Washington, Georgerick Coleman, Fernando Grider, Rick Jones, Jr., Yul McGee, Alonzo Jackson, Jamie Rockett, and Donnell Mitchell. The 23 RICO defendants received an aggregate total of 293 years of jail time for their crimes, and a major drug ring has been taken off the streets of Claiborne Parish.

In late 2024, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, along with the Louisiana State Police’s Drug Enforcement Task Force, became aware of large quantities of methamphetamines, marijuana, and cocaine being shipped from California and Texas to Claiborne Parish for local distribution. The State Police Task Force joined with CPSO in executing warrants for real-time wiretaps of Robinson’s two cell phone numbers. Law enforcement officers worked tirelessly to intercept and catalog more than 15,000 cell phone calls during the 60 days the wiretap warrant remained in effect. Through these calls, as well as many controlled buys of narcotics, law enforcement was able to identify exactly how the drug trafficking organization conducted its operations, who ran the organization, where it received its drugs from, and how it distributed the narcotics it sold locally. 

On January 31, 2025, after months of intensive investigation, over 350 officers from all over the state of Louisiana descended upon Claiborne Parish to aid the Louisiana State Police and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office with simultaneously striking multiple homes where the drug trafficking organization operated. On that day, the members of Robinson criminal organization were arrested and charged with crimes ranging from racketeering to possession with intent to distribute narcotics, and attempted murder. District Attorney Danny Newell tasked felony prosecutor, Jim Colvin, to lead the prosecution team, with assistance from fellow prosecutors Cliff Stryder and Cary Brown. 

Pounds of methamphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, and promethazine were seized during the investigation. Additionally, approximately $5,000 in cash, seven guns, and twelve vehicles were seized. The Claiborne Parish District Attorney’s Office credits the tireless efforts of the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police, the United States Postal Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, for making this prosecution the success that it was. Finally, a special thanks on behalf of the citizens of Claiborne Parish to the over 350 law enforcement officers that successfully served and executed the arrest warrants without injury to anyone.

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The Honorable Walter E. May, Jr., sentenced Alvin C. Buggage to a term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years on Sept. 8 following his conviction for the crime of Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The sentence will be served without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence in accordance with law.  The Honorable Walter E, May, Jr., also found the defendant, Alvin C. Buggage, to be a four-time felony habitual offender and set Buggage’s habitual felony offender enhancement sentencing date for November 10, 2026. 

This conviction stemmed from a two-day jury trial prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney, James H. Colvin, Jr. The jury consisted of twelve (12) Claiborne Parish citizens who unanimously found Alvin Buggage guilty as charged to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon pursuant to La. R.S. 14:95.1. Buggage had previously been convicted of Manslaughter in Orleans Parish docket number 502,364 on January 30, 2012. Following his release from prison in early 2024, his parole was transferred to Lincoln Parish, where he had moved. 

Trial testimony revealed that on the night of September 20, 2024, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Smith initiated a traffic stop of Buggage’s vehicle as he was leaving the Homer/Haynesville football game in Haynesville. During the encounter, Deputy Smith smelled marijuana from within the car; and upon searching the vehicle, Deputy Smith seized a fully loaded Sig Sauer, P365 .380 handgun. Louisiana law prohibits felons convicted of certain violent crimes from possessing a firearm for a period of ten years after being released from jail or completing their parole. 

The jury deliberated for less than one hour before returning its unanimous verdict of “guilty as charged.” Judge Walter May presided over the trial, and Assistant District Attorney, James H. Colvin, Jr., prosecuted the case for the State of Louisiana. 

Possession of a firearm by a convicted, violent felony offender is a very serious offense under Louisiana law punishable by at least five years in jail, but not more than twenty years. Further, because Judge May determined that Buggage was a four-time felony offender, Buggage’s sentence is subject to enhancement at the sentencing hearing set for November 10, 2026.  

“Constructive possession cases like this one are particularly challenging to prove,” said Jim Colvin, “but the outstanding work done by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office during the stop itself and the ensuing investigation allowed the prosecution to take a dangerous felon off the streets of Claiborne Parish. Gun crimes such as this will not be tolerated in our community, and they will be prosecuted to fullest extent of the law.”

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The Haynesville Police Department is warning residents to be cautious of calls, text messages or letters claiming to provide information about court dates.

According to the department, Haynesville Police will not call or text individuals about a court date and generally will not mail a letter regarding a regular court date.

There are, however, some exceptions. The department said a letter may be mailed when an individual’s court date has changed.

Police also clarified that the department does send letters in certain circumstances involving bench warrants or failure to pay on an established payment plan. Those notices are intended to give individuals an opportunity to make arrangements to address the warrant or outstanding payment.

Residents who receive a suspicious call, text or letter claiming to be from the Haynesville Police Department regarding court are encouraged to contact the department directly before responding or taking any action.

The department issued the notice in an effort to help residents distinguish legitimate communications from potentially fraudulent or misleading messages.

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