Castor High School has announced that the following students are its students of the year:
Castor High School posted on their Facebook page, “Congratulations to the Castor High School Students of the Year. These three outstanding young people represent the best of the Tigers. We are so very proud of them, and wish them good luck as they interview this week at the parish level.”
Turnout was low for Saturday’s election. The unofficial turnout for Bienville Parish was 11.8 %. The unofficial turnout for Ward 7 was higher at 17%.
The PW School District renewal passed while the Ward Seven Fire Protection District renewal was voted down.
67% Yes (717 votes)
33% No (354 votes)
(Voter breakdown: 48.6% Democrat, 32.4% Republican, 19% Other)
46% Yes (110 votes)
54% No (128 votes)
(Voter breakdown: 41.1% Democrat, 38.8% Republican, 20.1% Other )
The LSU AgCenter in Arcadia will host Hunter’s Education classes to anyone 10 years old and up. Classes will be January 21st from 4-9 pm and January 22st from 8-2 pm.
Call 318-263-7400 to reserve your spot today!
LSU AgCenter
2710 Maple Street
Arcadia, La 71001
(Next to the Public Library)
Looking for something to do with the family during winter break? Make time to get outside, unwind, and spend time with family and friends while fishing one of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ (LDWF) 17 sites participating in the Get Out and Fish! community fishing program. LDWF stocks Get Out and Fish! ponds with adult-size channel catfish in the spring and fall, and rainbow trout in the winter, to increase your chances of bringing home a few keepers for a fish fry!
To add a little extra excitement to your fishing experience, LDWF will be hosting a tagged catfish derby at all of our Get Out and Fish! ponds between Saturday, December 18th, and Saturday, December 25th. Anglers who catch and report a tagged channel catfish caught at a Get Out and Fish! pond during the December 18-25 derby, will receive a fishing prize pack from LDWF. Each pond will have ten tagged channel catfish released with the other stocked catfish.
For more information about the event including directions to each of the ponds, reporting instructions, derby rules, and tips on how to catch catfish, click here.
Anglers 16 and older must possess a Louisiana fishing license when fishing in any Louisiana public waters. Licenses are available for purchase online by clicking here. By purchasing a fishing license, Louisiana receives matching funds from the Sport Fish Restoration Program for public fishing and boating access, fishing programs and education and fisheries management.
Get Out and Fish! Community Fishing sites to be stocked with tagged catfish include:
This event is hosted in conjunction with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation (LAWFF). The LAWFF was formed to help expand and support LDWF education and research programs with additional resources developed through its own facilities. Encouraging support for LDWF programs is the major focus of the Foundation, accomplished by connecting people and businesses with Louisiana’s natural resources.
In 1939, author Philip Van Doren Stern awoke from a dream and immediately began jotting down notes. He wanted to write down what he could while it was still fresh in his mind. At first, the dream reminded him of A Christmas Carol, the Charles Dickens novella from 1843. The more he wrote, however, the less it resembled the Dickens tale.
Stern was known for his non-fiction books on the Civil War. During World War II, Stern had resized popular books so they would fit into the pockets of soldiers. He had compiled and annotated works from Edgar Allan Poe, Henry David Thoreau, and Abraham Lincoln. He had plenty of writing experience but he had never written a work of fiction. For four years, in between other writing projects, Stern wrote and edited his story. Finally, in 1943, one hundred years after Dickens published A Christmas Carol, Stern completed his short book. He called it The Greatest Gift.
Despite being a noted historian and author with a catalog of successful books to his credit, he could not find a willing publisher for The Greatest Gift. That was almost the end of the story, but, rather than discarding the story he had labored over for four years, Stern had another idea. When traditional publisher refused to his book, he did as Dickens did with A Christmas Carol and published it himself. Unlike Dickens, who sold his self-published book, Stern sent his 21-page books that year instead of Christmas cards.
During the 1943 Christmas season, Stern sent out 200 copies of The Greatest Gift to his friends, acquaintances, and even sent copies to his eight-year-old daughter’s teachers and her friends. One of the books reached the desk of a producer at RKO Pictures. He read the book and realized that it had potential. RKO Pictures made a deal with Stern and purchased the rights for an undisclosed amount to turn The Greatest Gift into a motion picture. The producer loaned the book to Cary Grant, who, after reading it, became interested in playing the lead character. For reasons which are not entirely clear, although profit was the most logical motive, RKO sold the rights to The Greatest Gift to Liberty Films, Frank Capra’s production company, for $10,000. Prior to adapting Stern’s book into a screenplay, Capra had directed classic films such as You Can’t Take It With You, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Arsenic and Old Lace.
Capra’s film version of Stern’s The Greatest Gift premiered at New York’s Globe Theatre on December 21, 1946. Everyone at Liberty Films had high hopes for the film and began a promotional campaign directed toward Academy Award consideration. It quickly became apparent that the film would be a commercial flop. The film failed to even pay for the cost of its production. In fact, it lost more than half a million dollars and caused the eventual bankruptcy of Liberty Films. Despite its failure at the box office, the film received five Oscar nominations, including best picture, best director and best actor. The film was a box office failure and was also a failure at the Academy Awards. It won no Oscars.
Stern’s The Greatest Gift seemed to be anything but a gift to Frank Capra and Liberty Films. For nearly three decades, the film was ignored and was destined to fade into obscurity. After the failure of Liberty Films, the rights to The Greatest Gift changed hands several times. In 1974, the copyright for the film was not properly renewed. The film went into the public domain which meant that television stations could air the film at no cost.
During every Christmas season since 1974, television stations around the world aired the film on constant rotation. Due to its constant rotation, a whole new generation began to appreciate the ignored film. In 1986, when the film became available on videocassette, more than 80,000 copies of the film were sold. In 1987, customers bought more than 150,000 copies of the new colorized version of the film. After more than four decades, The Greatest Gift was finally a hit.
Even now, 75 years after it was released, the film is still shown repeatedly during the Christmas season. It is now considered one of the greatest films of all time. It is ranked the most inspirational American movie of all time by The American Film Institute.
If Philip Van Doren Stern had not given copies of his book as Christmas cards in 1943 and simply tossed the manuscript aside, we may never have known the story of The Greatest Gift, which Frank Capra renamed…It’s a Wonderful Life.
Have a very Merry Christmas!!!
Sources:
1. The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), May 12, 1946, p.54.
2. The Austin American (Austin, Texas), December 8, 1946, p.55.
3. The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), December 2, 1984, p.107.
4. The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois), December 20, 1987, p.12.
5. Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York), December 8, 2006, p.33.
6. Ashcraft, Jenny. “Classic Holiday Film Celebrates Its 75th Anniversary.” FishWrap. December 2, 2021. https://blog.newspapers.com/classic-holiday-film-celebrates-its-75th-anniversary/?utm_source=Headline&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Headline-Dec-21.
Take a look at the current schedule below.
| Date/Time | Opponent | Home/Away | Win/Loss | Final Score |
| Nov. 16 at 6 pm | Summerfield | Home | Win | 57-41 |
| Nov. 17 at 7 pm | Lakeview (tournament) | Away | Loss | 58-87 |
| Nov. 20 at 4:30 pm | Lakeside (tournament) | Away | Win | 59-45 |
| Nov. 23 at 5 pm | Saline | Away | Loss | 69-71 |
| Dec. 2 at 6:15 pm | Ringgold (parish tournament) | Away | Win | 61-53 |
| Dec. 3 at 6:15 pm | Gibsland-Coleman (parish tournament) | Away | Loss | 45-81 |
| Dec. 9 at 7:30 pm | Green Oaks | Home | Loss | 45-48 |
| Dec. 10 at 6 pm | Gibsland-Coleman | Home | Win | 74-65 |
| Dec. 13 at 7 pm | Ruston | Home | Loss | 33-68 |
| Dec. 21 at 7 pm | Haynesville | Home | ||
| Dec. 21 at 7 pm | Lincoln Preparatory School | Home | ||
| Dec. 23 at 7 pm | Gibsland-Coleman | Away | ||
| Dec. 28 at 7:15 pm | Jonesboro-Hodge | Away | ||
| Jan. 7 at 7 pm | Green Oaks | Away | ||
| Jan. 13 at 7 pm | Lakeside | Home | ||
| Jan. 14 at 7 pm | Simsboro | Home | ||
| Jan. 18 at 7 pm | Calvary Baptist (district) | Away | ||
| Jan. 21 at 7 pm | Haynesville (district) | Home | ||
| Jan. 25 at 7 pm | Homer | Home | ||
| Jan. 28 at 6 pm | Magnolia School of Excellence (district) | Away | ||
| Jan. 31 at 7:15 pm | Jonesboro-Hodge | Home | ||
| Feb. 1 at 7 pm | Glenbrook (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 4 at 7 pm | Plain Dealing | Away | ||
| Feb. 8 at 7 pm | Ringgold (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 11 at 7 pm | Lincoln Preparatory School | Away | ||
| Feb. 15 at 7 pm | Homer | Away | ||
| Feb. 18 at 6 pm | Simsboro | Away |
| Date/Time | Opponent | Home/Away | Win/Loss | Final Score |
| Nov. 16 at 6 pm | Sumemrfield | Home | Win | 47-41 |
| Nov. 17 at 6 pm | North DeSoto (tournament) | Away | Win | 40-19 |
| Nov. 19 at 6 pm | North Webster (tournament) | Away | Win | 52-19 |
| Nov. 20 at 6 pm | Lakeview (tournament) | Away | Loss | 29-72 |
| Nov. 22 at 6 pm | Saline | Away | ||
| Nov. 23 at 12 pm | Wossman (tournament) | Away | Loss | 34-60 |
| Dec. 2 at 5 pm | Ringgold (parish tournament) | Away | Win | 53-19 |
| Dec. 3 at 5 pm | Gibsland-Coleman (parish tournament) | Away | Loss | 38-58 |
| Dec. 8 at 6 pm | Plain Dealing | Home | Win | 57-45 |
| Dec. 9 at 6 pm | Green Oaks | Home | Win | 63-27 |
| Dec. 10 at 6 pm | Gibsland-Coleman | Home | Loss | 49-55 |
| Dec. 13 at 5:30 pm | Ruston | Home | Loss | 29-62 |
| Dec. 21 at 6 pm | Lincoln Preparatory School | Home | ||
| Dec. 22 at 6 pm | Wossman | Home | ||
| Dec. 23 at 6 pm | Gibsland-Coleman | Away | ||
| Dec. 28 at 6 pm | Jonesboro-Hodge | Away | ||
| Jan. 7 at 6 pm | Green Oaks | Away | ||
| Jan. 13 at 6 pm | Lakeside | Home | ||
| Jan. 14 at 6 pm | Simsboro | Home | ||
| Jan. 18 at 6 pm | Calvary Baptist (district) | Away | ||
| Jan. 21 at 6 pm | Haynesville (district) | Home | ||
| Jan. 25 at 6 pm | Homer (district) | Home | ||
| Jan. 31 at 6 pm | Jonesboro-Hodge | Home | ||
| Feb. 1 at 6 pm | Glenbrook (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 4 at 6 pm | Plain Dealing | Away | ||
| Feb. 8 at 6 pm | Ringgold | Home | ||
| Feb. 11 at 6 pm | Lincoln Preparatory School (district) | Away |
| Arcadia Tournaments | From | To |
| Lakeside | Nov. 17 | Nov. 20 |
| Wossman | Nov. 22 | Nov. 24 |
| Ruston | Dec. 16 | Dec. 18 |
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Update: Mrs. Roberts contacted me this evening and said she got her pediatric nurse practitioner degree, not her RN, from the University of South Alabama. We strive to report the news accurately and welcome our readers to notify us of errors or typos that need correcting.
Ginger Roberts of Saline has her sights set high despite being a high school dropout. Ginger is proof that you can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it.
Ginger went to Dubach High School, but quit school at Christmas when she was in the 9th grade. In 1992, she got her GED.
Ginger went to nursing school and, in 1996, she became an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) at Delta Ouachita in Monroe. She graduated with her associates degree in nursing in December of 2007 from Southern Arkansas University.
She graduated from LSU at Alexandria in December of 2019 with a bachelors degree in nursing.
In January of 2020, she began the RN (Registered Nurse) program at the University of South Alabama and graduated this past Friday, December 10, 2021. On the day before her graduation, Ginger was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
She will working for Dr. Cristal Kirby, a pediatrician in Minden.
That’s not all. Ginger was accepted into the University of South Alabama’s doctorate of nursing program, which she will being next month.
Ginger said, “I would just like to encourage anyone who thinks they cannot obtain their dream because of their past experiences to know God will help you do anything you set your mind to. It was a very hard road and I could have done this a long time ago, but I kept telling myself I couldn’t because I was a high school drop out. We make decisions in our life sometimes that may not match up to Gods plan for our life, but if you lean on him and have faith in him, he knows the desires of your heart and he will use you in miraculous ways. I want this to be a testimony for God, not me.”
Congratulations, Ginger, and may God be with you in the doctoral program!!!”
On Friday, the Castor Tigers took on Georgetown and lost 42-51. Yesterday, the Tigers played Quitman and lost 46-75.
On Friday, the Lady Tigers played Georgetown and won 44-38. Yesterday, the Lady Tigers took on Quitman and lost 44-57.
Take a look at the current schedule below.
| Date/Time | Opponent | Home/Away | Win/Loss | Final Score |
| Nov. 2 at 7 pm | Claiborne Christian | Away | Win | 61-57 |
| Nov. 4 at 5 pm | Calvin (tournament) | Away | Loss | 45-70 |
| Nov. 6 at 12:30 pm | Atlanta (tournament) | Away | Loss | 63-71 |
| Nov. 9 at 7 pm | Florien | Home | Loss | 37-67 |
| Nov. 11 at 8 pm | Ebarb (tournament) | Away | Loss | 47-67 |
| Nov. 12 at 8 pm | Stanley (tournament) | Away | Loss | 46-62 |
| Nov. 16 at 7 pm | Calvin | Home | Loss | 43-75 |
| Nov. 18 at 6 pm | Simsboro | Away | Loss | 23-80 |
| Nov. 19 at 6 pm | Claiborne Christian | Home | Win | 72-48 |
| Nov. 22 at 7 pm | Glenbrook | Home | Loss | 53-60 |
| Nov. 30 at 7 pm | Stanley | Away | Loss | 35-69 |
| Dec. 3 at 7:30 p | Saline (parish tournament) | Away | Loss | 40-68 |
| Dec. 6 at 5 pm | Negreet | Home | Loss | 49-60 |
| Dec. 7 at 7 pm | D’Arbonne Woods Charter | Home | Loss | 49-59 |
| Dec. 10 at 6 pm | Georgetown | Away | Loss | 42-51 |
| Dec. 14 at 6 pm | Quitman | Home | Loss | 46-75 |
| Dec. 27 at 7 pm | Glenbrook | Away | ||
| Jan. 4 at 7 pm | Weston | Home | ||
| Jan. 7 at 6 pm | Downsille | Away | ||
| Jan. 13 at 6 pm | Quitman | Away | ||
| Jan. 14 at 7 pm | D’Arbonne Woods Charter | Away | ||
| Jan. 18 at 7 pm | Weston | Away | ||
| Jan. 20 at 7 pm | Doyline (district) | Home | ||
| Jan. 25 at TBA | Dodson (district) | Away | ||
| Jan. 28 at 7 pm | Saline (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 1 at 7 pm | Doyline (district) | Away | ||
| Feb. 3 at 7 pm | Dodson (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 4 at 7 pm | Dodson (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 8 at 7 pm | Saline (district) | Away | ||
| Feb. 15 at 6 pm | Simsboro | Home | ||
| Feb. 18 at 7 pm | Calvin | Away |
| Date/Time | Opponent | Home/Away | Win/Loss | Final Score |
| Nov. 2 at 6 pm | Claiborne Christian | Away | Loss | 47-59 |
| Nov. 4 at 3:30 pm | Calvin (tournament) | Away | Win | 46-45 |
| Nov. 6 at 11 am | Atlanta (tournament) | Away | Loss | 50-60 |
| Nov. 9 at 5:30 pm | Florien | Home | Loss | 33-59 |
| Nov. 11 at 6:30 pm | Ebarb (Tournament) | Away | Loss | 40-54 |
| Nov. 12 at 6:30 pm | Stanley (Tournament) | Away | Loss | 47-48 |
| Nov. 16 at 5 pm | Calvin | Home | Win | 59-56 |
| Nov. 19 at 6 pm | Claiborne Christian | Home | Win | 45-42 |
| Nov. 22 at 6 pm | Glenbrook | Home | Win | 48-43 |
| Nov. 30 at 5 pm | Stanley | Away | Loss | 38-44 |
| Dec. 2 at 7:30 pm | Saline (parish tournament) | Away | Win | 49-38 |
| Dec. 4 at 6 pm | Gibsland-Coleman (parish tournament) | Away | Loss | 32-62 |
| Dec. 6 at 6 pm | Negreet | Home | Loss | 36-40 |
| Dec. 7 at 6 pm | D’Arbonne Woods Charter | Home | Win | 67-21 |
| Dec. 10 at 6 pm | Georgetown | Away | Win | 44-38 |
| Dec. 14 at 6 pm | Quitman | Home | Loss | 44-57 |
| Dec. 27 at 6 pm | Glenbrook | Away | ||
| Dec. 28 at 6 pm | North DeSoto | Home | ||
| Jan. 4 at 6 pm | Weston | Home | ||
| Jan. 7 at 6 pm | Downsville | Away | ||
| Jan. 13 at 6 pm | Quitman | Away | ||
| Jan. 14 at 6 pm | D’Arbonne Woods Charter | Away | ||
| Jan. 18 at 6 pm | Weston | Away | ||
| Jan. 20 at 6 pm | Doyline (district) | Home | ||
| Jan. 25 at 6 pm | Dodson (district) | Away | ||
| Jan. 28 at 6 pm | Saline (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 1 at 6 pm | Doyline (district) | Away | ||
| Feb. 3 at 6 pm | Dodson (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 4 at 6 pm | Dodson (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 8 at 6 pm | Saline (district) | Away |
| Castor Tournaments | From | To |
| Dodson | Nov. 4 | Nov. 6 |
| Ebarb | Nov. 11 | Nov. 13 |
| Castor | Dec. 2 | Dec. 4 |
| Castor | Dec. 16 | Dec. 18 |
December 6
December 8
December 9
December 11
Take a look at the current schedule below.
| Date/Time | Opponent | Home/Away | Win/Loss | Final Score |
| Nov. 2 at 7 pm | Saline | Home | Win | 55-43 |
| Nov. 4 at 7 pm | Simsboro | Away | Loss | 59-68 |
| Nov. 5 at 4 pm | Saline (tournament) | Away | Win | 78-35 |
| Nov. 6 at 2:45 pm | Choudrant (tournament) | Away | Win | 67-45 |
| Nov. 11 at 7:15 pm | Simsboro (tournament) | Away | Loss | 56-63 |
| Nov. 13 at 4 pm | Jehovah-Jireh | Away | Loss | 70-73 |
| Nov. 16 at 7 pm | Union Parish | Away | Win | 74-64 |
| Nov. 17 at 7 pm | Lincoln Preparatory School | Away | Win | 73-40 |
| Nov. 23 at 6 pm | Minden | Home | Win | 69-46 |
| Nov. 30 at 6 pm | Plain Dealing | Home | Win | 77-32 |
| Dec. 3 at 6:15 pm | Arcadia (parish tournament) | Away | Win | 81-45 |
| Dec. 4 at 7:30 pm | Saline (parish tournament) | Away | Win | 60-38 |
| Dec. 10 at 6 pm | Arcadia | Away | Loss | 65-74 |
| Dec. 11 at 7 pm | Southwood | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Dec. 11 at 7 pm | C.E Byrd (tournament) | Away | Win | 62-45 |
| Dec. 13 at 6 pm | Ringgold | Away | Win | 66-26 |
| Dec. 20 at 6:30 pm | Ruston | Home | ||
| Dec. 23 at 7 pm | Arcadia | Home | ||
| Jan. 3 at 7 pm | Dodson | Home | ||
| Jan. 7 at 7 pm | Choudrant | Home | ||
| Jan. 11 at 6 pm | Mansfield | Home | ||
| Jan. 14 at 7 pm | Summerfield | Away | ||
| Jan. 20 at 7 pm | Union Parish | Home | ||
| Jan. 25 at 7 pm | Summerfield | Home | ||
| Feb. 3 at 7 pm | Homer | Home |
| Date/Time | Opponent | Home/Away | Win/Loss | Final Score |
| Nov. 2 at 6 pm | Saline | Home | Win | 53-22 |
| Nov. 4 at 6 pm | Simsboro | Away | Win | 52-33 |
| Nov. 5 at 5:30 pm | Saline | Away | Win | 77-41 |
| Nov. 6 at 1:30 pm | Choudrant | Away | Win | 42-21 |
| Nov. 11 at TBA | Simsboro | Away | Win | 69-36 |
| Nov. 15 at 6 pm | Glenbrook | Home | Win | 51-23 |
| Nov. 16 at 6 pm | Union Parish | Away | Win | 53-32 |
| Nov. 17 at 6 pm | Lincoln Preparatory School | Away | Win | 40-6 |
| Nov. 30 at 6 pm | Plain Dealing | Home | Win | 62-45 |
| Dec. 3 at 5 pm | Arcadia (parish tournament) | Away | Win | 58-38 |
| Dec. 4 at 6 pm | Castor (parish tournament) | Away | Win | 62-32 |
| Dec.10 at 6 pm | Arcadia | Away | Win | 55-49 |
| Dec. 11 at 6 pm | Southwood | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Dec. 11 at 4:30 pm | Rayville (tournament) | Away | Loss | 53-62 |
| Dec. 13 at 6 pm | Ringgold | Away | Win | 84-17 |
| Dec. 20 at 5 pm | Ruston | Home | ||
| Dec. 23 at 6 pm | Arcadia | Home | ||
| Jan. 3 at 6 pm | Dodson | Home | ||
| Jan. 7 at 6 pm | Choudrant | Home | ||
| Jan. 14 at 6 pm | Summerfield | Away | ||
| Jan. 20 at 6 pm | Union Parish | Home | ||
| Jan. 25 at 6 pm | Summerfield | Home | ||
| Feb. 3 at 6 pm | Homer | Home | ||
| Feb. 4 at 6 pm | Plainview | Away | ||
| Feb. 8 at 6 pm | Huntington | Away |
1778 – American Revolutionary War: British and French fleets clashed in the Battle of St. Lucia.
1791 – The United States Bill of Rights became law when ratified by the Virginia General Assembly.
1836 – The U.S. Patent Office building in Washington, D.C., nearly burned to the ground. The fire destroyed all 9,957 patents issued by the federal government to that date, as well as 7,000 related patent models.
1864 – American Civil War: The Battle of Nashville began at Nashville, Tennessee, and ended the following day with the destruction of the Confederate Army of Tennessee as a fighting force by the Union Army of the Cumberland.
1890 – Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull was killed on Standing Rock Indian Reservation, which led to the Wounded Knee Massacre.
1893 – Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World” a.k.a. the “New World Symphony”) by Antonín Dvořák premiered in a public afternoon rehearsal at Carnegie Hall in New York City, followed by a concert premiere on the evening of December 16.
1903 – Italian American food cart vendor Italo Marchiony received a U.S. patent for inventing a machine that makes ice cream cones.
1906 – The London Underground’s Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway opened.
1939 – Gone with the Wind (highest inflation adjusted grossing film) received its premiere at Loew’s Grand Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
1941 – The Holocaust in Ukraine: German troops murdered over 15,000 Jews at Drobytsky Yar, a ravine southeast of the city of Kharkiv.
1944 – World War II: a single-engine UC-64A Norseman aeroplane carrying United States Army Air Forces Major Glenn Miller was lost in a flight over the English Channel.
1955 – Johnny Cash released “Folsom Prison Blues”. It was the Billboard Song of the Year for 1968.
1959 – Everly Brothers recorded “Let It Be Me”, an English translation of by Gilbert Bécaud’s French song “Je t’appartiens”. It reached No. 7 on the charts.
1960 – Richard Pavlick was arrested for plotting to assassinate U.S. President-Elect John F. Kennedy.
1961 – Adolf Eichmann, German SS Officer and one of the organizers of the Holocaust, was sentenced to death after being found guilty by an Israeli court of 15 criminal charges, including charges of crimes against humanity, crimes against the Jewish people, and membership of an outlawed organization.
1965 – Project Gemini: Gemini 6A, crewed by Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford, was launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida. Four orbits later, it achieved the first space rendezvous, with Gemini 7.
1967 – The Beatles released “Christmas Time is Here Again”.
1967 – The Silver Bridge collapsed over the Ohio River in the US and killed 46 people.
1969 – Plastic Ono Band played their only concert at London’s Lyceum Ballroom.
1970 – Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 successfully landed on Venus. It was the first successful soft landing on another planet.
1973 – John Paul Getty III, grandson of American billionaire J. Paul Getty, was found alive near Naples, Italy, after being kidnapped by an Italian gang on July 10.
1973 – The American Psychiatric Association voted 13–0 to remove homosexuality from its official list of psychiatric disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
1973 – The Pirates of Caribbean ride opened at Disneyland.
1973 – Sandy Hawley became the first jockey to win 500 races in a single year.
1978 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States would recognize the People’s Republic of China and severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan).
1979 – Chris Haney and Scott Abbott developed the board game “Trivial Pursuit.”
1988 – Lori Davis of Long Island sued Mike Tyson for grabbing her buttocks.
1993 – Legendary composer and conductor John Williams had his final appearance as conductor of Boston Pops.
2000 – The third reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was shut down.
2001 – The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened after 11 years and $27,000,000 spent to stabilize it, without fixing its famous lean.
2005 – The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor began active service in the US Air Force.
2010 – A boat carrying 90 asylum seekers crashed into rocks off the coast of Christmas Island, Australia, and killed 48 people.
2014 – Gunman Man Haron Monis took 18 hostages inside a café in Martin Place for 16 hours in Sydney. Monis and two hostages were killed when police raided the café the following morning.
Take a look at the current schedule below.
| Date/Time | Opponent | Home/Away | Win/Loss | Final Score |
| Nov. 16 at 7 pm | River Oaks | Away | Loss | 42-45 |
| Nov. 17 at 7 pm | C.E. Byrd | Away | ||
| Nov. 18 at 5 pm | Quitman (Tournament) | Away | Win | 48-39 |
| Nov. 20 at 5:15 pm | Ruston (tournament) | Away | Loss | 20-74 |
| Nov. 22 at 7 pm | Pleasant Hill | Home | Win | 53-51 |
| Nov. 23 at 7 pm | North Webster | Away | Loss | 46-55 |
| Nov. 29 at TBA | River Oaks | Home | Loss | 39-46 |
| Nov. 30 at 6 pm | Evangel Christian | Away | Loss | 15-76 |
| Dec. 2 at 6:15 pm | Arcadia | Away | Loss | 53-61 |
| Dec. 6 at 7 pm | Lakeside | Away | Win | 72-70 |
| Dec. 7 at 6 pm | St. Mary’s | Away | Loss | 28-54 |
| Dec. 9 at 5 pm | West Monroe (tournament) | Away | Loss | 44-66 |
| Dec. 10 at 5 pm | Booker T. Washington (tournament) | Away | Loss | 68-23 |
| Dec. 13 at 6 pm | Gibsland-Coleman | Home | Loss | 26-66 |
| Dec. 14 at 7 pm | Saline | Home | Loss | 35-49 |
| Dec. 17 at 6 pm | Atlanta | Home | ||
| Dec. 21 at 6 pm | Logansport | Home | ||
| Jan. 3 at 6 pm | Atlanta | Away | ||
| Jan. 4 at 7 pm | Ebarb | Home | ||
| Jan. 6 at 7 pm | Weston | Away | ||
| Jan. 10 at 7 pm | North Webster | Home | ||
| Jan. 12 at 7 pm | Summerfield | Away | ||
| Jan. 14 at 7 pm | Lincoln Preparatory School (district) | Away | ||
| Jan. 18 at 7 pm | Homer (district) | Home | ||
| Jan. 21 at 7 pm | Magnolia School of Excellence (district) | Home | ||
| Jan. 25 at 7 pm | Haynesville (district) | Away | ||
| Jan. 28 at 7 pm | Plain Dealing (district) | Away | ||
| Feb. 1 at 7:30 pm | Red River | Away | ||
| Feb. 4 at 7 pm | Glenbrook (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 8 at 7 pm | Arcadia (district) | Away | ||
| Feb. 11 at 7 pm | Calvary Baptist (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 15 at 6 pm | Jonesboro-Hodge | Away |
| Date/Time | Opponent | Home/Away | Win/Loss | Final Score |
| Oct. 29 at 6 pm | River Oaks | Home | ||
| Nov. 16 at 6 pm | River Oaks | Away | Loss | 10-56 |
| Nov. 17 at 6 pm | C.E. Byrd | Away | Loss | 14-65 |
| Nov. 18 | Quitman (tournament) | Away | Loss | 21-52 |
| Nov. 20 at 6:30 | Saline (tournament) | Away | Loss | 27-58 |
| Nov. 22 at 6 pm | Pleasant Hill | Home | ||
| Nov. 23 at 6 pm | North Webster | Away | Loss | 22-38 |
| Nov. 29 at 6 pm | River Oaks | Home | Loss | 12-41 |
| Nov. 30 at 6 pm | Evangel Christian | Away | Win | 54-0 |
| Dec. 2 at 5 pm | Arcadia (parish tournament) | Away | Loss | 19-53 |
| Dec. 6 at 6 pm | Lakeside | Away | Loss | 28-43 |
| Dec. 7 at 6 pm | St. Mary’s | Away | Loss | 21-71 |
| Dec. 10 at 4 pm | North DeSoto (tournament) | Away | Loss | 33-35 |
| Dec. 13 at 6 pm | Gibsland-Coleman | Home | Loss | 17-84 |
| Dec. 14 at 6 pm | Saline | Home | Loss | 20-62 |
| Dec. 17 at 5 pm | Atlanta | Home | ||
| Jan. 3 at 5 pm | Atlanta | Away | ||
| Jan. 4 at 6 pm | Ebarb | Home | ||
| Jan. 6 at 6 pm | Weston | Away | ||
| Jan. 10 at 6 pm | North Webster | Home | ||
| Jan. 12 at 6 pm | Summerfield | Away | ||
| Jan. 14 at 6 pm | Lincoln Preparatory School | Away | ||
| Jan. 18 at 6 pm | Homer | Home | ||
| Jan. 25 at 6 pm | Haynesville (district) | Away | ||
| Jan. 28 at 6 pm | Plain Dealing | Away | ||
| Feb. 1 at 6 pm | Red River | Away | ||
| Feb. 4 at 6 pm | Glenbrook (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 8 at 6 pm | Arcadia | Away | ||
| Feb. 11 at 6 pm | Calvary Baptist (district) | Home |
| Ringgold Tournaments | From | To |
| Saline | Nov. 18 | Nov. 20 |
| Caldwell Parish | Dec. 27 | Dec. 30 |
Table scraps …
November 30 marked the 50-year anniversary of one of the most tear-filled nights in American history — at least for those who owned a television set.
That night in 1971 was the premier of Brian’s Song, a 90-minute TV movie about the real-life relationship between Gayle Sayers, a Chicago Bears football halfback draftee from Kansas and future NFL Hall of Famer, who was black, and fullback Brian Piccolo, a free agent who made Chicago’s team as a fullback free agent, who was white. The story is taken from Sayers’ 1970 book, I Am Third, one of my boyhood favorites.
The shy Sayers and the bubbling-over Piccolo ended up being roommates on the road in 1967, the first time Chicago players of different races had ever roomed together. The bromance grew in the four years they were teammates. Opposites attracted. The two young men and their wives became besties.
But then what happened would make a glass eye cry.
Piccolo took himself out of a game in Atlanta in 1969 and later learned he had cancer. It would kill him in 1970. The relationship between the two young men and their wives is the heart of the movie. A month before Piccolo died, Sayers received the George S. Halas Courage Award and gave the speech, recreated in the film, that made an 11-year-old boy in South Carolina (me and most others of all ages watching) cry:
“He has the mental attitude that makes me proud to have a friend who spells out the word ‘courage’ 24 hours a day, every day of his life. You flatter me by giving me this award, but I tell you that I accept it for Brian Piccolo. It is mine tonight; it is Brian Piccolo’s tomorrow. I love Brian Piccolo, and I’d like all of you to love him too.”
The casting was perfect timing for viewers. Billie Dee Williams as Sayers had not yet become a star. And James Caan as Piccolo was a year removed from his breakout role in The Godfather. So, they both were believable as football players.
As a football player, Sayers was almost unbelievable. There have been few more fun to watch than Sayers, who was poetry in motion. To see someone else run like a deer, watch him or Ruston’s Dub Jones, the 1950s Cleveland Browns star and Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer from Ruston. Those guys are two of only four players to ever score six touchdowns in an NFL game. Mercy.
If you can find Brian’s Song, watch it over the holidays. And count your blessings …
It’s the 75th anniversary of It’s a Wonderful Life, a semi-flop in post-war 1946 but a classic now. If you’ve never seen it, this Christmas is the perfect time to change that. You might just help an angel get his (or her) wings …
He coached in five different decades — multiple sports at multiple schools, including Woodlawn, Southwood, and Captain Shreve. Retired since 2009, Ken Ivy got a lot of what happened in that half century down on paper, and now those memories can be yours in an $11.99 paperback available online. That’s All Life Is, Is Stories, by Coach Ken Ivy (With Help From Some Old Friends) is 274 pages from Ivy, 83, and many of the players he coached during his winning, colorful career. It was published this month so it’s hot off the press, as they say …
Thank goodness that ball with full parks (mostly) came back last spring and that stadiums and gymnasiums with fans came back this fall. But more than that, community theater returned. Didn’t get to see many productions but was grateful for All Together Now from Ruston Community Theatre and Clue at East Bank in Bossier City. Also, at Shreveport Little Theatre, Boeing, Boeing in September and, last weekend, White Christmas, a huge production, what they in the biz call a ‘big show,’ lots and lots of scene changes and costumes and a huge cast. Thank you for all these shows to everyone because making it look easy ain’t easy. Best wishes in your artistic pursuits in 2022. Looking forward to it. Break a leg!, (but not literally) …
Oh, about White Christmas, and since it’s the season, here are some lyrics I wrote 25ish years ago, updated. Maybe it’s the Baptist version of the classic:
I’m dreaming of a white cornbread,
Just like the ones I used to know.
One that melts the butter,
Makes taste buds flutter,
And makes you weep from head to toe.
I’m dreaming of a white cornbread,
In every skillet that’s in sight,
May the sides be crispy, to bite,
And may all your cornbreads be just right…
Gratefully, the Dad Jokes Calendar that was a 2020 Christmas present (that’s so 2020, right?) is almost no more. This is great news to those around me who’ve had to suffer these almost daily jabs for nearly 12 months; I’ve managed to get on my own nerves. Our final Dad Joke has a Christmas theme: What do elves post on Social Media? They post Elf-ies! (See? Instead of Selfies they pos … Well, never mind. But it’s almost like a joke. Almost.) …
Sincere Merry Christmas wishes to you. Hope this is your best one yet. If it’s Dad Joke-free, it’s got a chance.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
Take a look at the current schedule below.
| Date/Time | Opponent | Home/Away | Win/Loss | Final Score |
| Nov. 2 at 7 pm | Gibsland-Coleman | Away | Loss | 43-55 |
| Nov. 4 at 6:45 pm | Choudrant (tournament) | Away | Loss | 66-71 |
| Nov. 5 at 4 pm | Gibsland-Coleman (tournament) | Away | Loss | 35-78 |
| Nov. 8 at 7 pm | Simsboro | Home | Loss | 49-79 |
| Nov. 9 at6 pm | Quitman | Home | Win | 50-47 |
| Nov. 12 at 4 pm | Atlanta (tournament) | Away | Win | 73-58 |
| Nov. 13 at 7:30 pm | Calvin (tournament) | Away | Loss | 53-67 |
| Nov. 16 at 7 pm | Atlanta | Away | Win | 84-77 |
| Nov. 18 at 7:30 pm | Haughton (tournament) | Away | Loss | 53-54 |
| Nov. 19 at 7:45 pm | Ruston (tournament) | Away | Loss | 27-60 |
| Nov. 23 at 5 pm | Arcadia | Home | Win | 71-69 |
| Nov. 30 at 7 pm | Calvin | Home | Loss | 65-66 |
| Dec. 3 at 7:30 pm | Castor (parish tournament) | Away | Win | 68-40 |
| Dec. 4 at 7:30 pm | Gibsland-Coleman (parish tournament) | Away | Loss | 38-60 |
| Dec. 7 at 6 pm | Lincoln Preparatory School | Home | Loss | 70-59 |
| Dec. 10 at 7:45 pm | Cedar Creek (tournament) | Home | Win | 42-36 |
| Dec. 11 at 7:30 pm | Calvin (tournament) | Away | Loss | 60-71 |
| Dec. 13 at 7 pm | Simsboro | Away | Loss | 54-86 |
| Dec. 14 at 7 pm | Ringgold | Away | Win | 49-35 |
| Dec. 17 at 7 pm | Choudrant | Home | ||
| Dec. 21 at 7 pm | D’Arbonne Woods Charter | Away | ||
| Dec. 30 at 6 pm | Atlanta | Home | ||
| Dec. 30 at 7:30 pm | Red River | Home | ||
| Jan. 6 at 7 pm | Cedar Creek | Home | ||
| Jan. 7 at 6 pm | Union Parish | Away | ||
| Jan. 10 at 5 pm | Negreet | Home | ||
| Jan. 11 at 6 pm | Weston | Home | ||
| Jan. 14 at 7:30 pm | Ebarb | Away | ||
| Jan. 18 at 6 pm | Quitman | Away | ||
| Jan. 21 at 7 pm | Dodson (district) | Home | ||
| Jan. 27 at 7:15 pm | Jonesboro-Hodge | Away | ||
| Jan. 28 at 7 pm | Castor (district) | Away | ||
| Feb. 1 at 7 pm | Dodson (district) | Away | ||
| Feb. 8 at 7 pm | Castor (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 15 at 6 pm | Sterlington | Away | ||
| Feb. 18 at 6 pm | Pleasant Hill | Away |
| Date/Time | Opponent | Home/Away | Win/Loss | Final Score |
| Nov. 2 at 6 pm | Gibsland-Coleman | Away | Loss | 22-53 |
| Nov. 4 at 6 pm | Choudrant (tournament) | Away | Loss | 35-44 |
| Nov. 5 at 5:30 pm | Gibsland-Coleman (tournament) | Away | Loss | 41-77 |
| Nov. 8 at 6 pm | Simsboro | Home | Loss | 50-66 |
| Nov. 9 at 6 pm | Quitman | Home | Loss | 28-56 |
| Nov. 12 | Calvin (tournament) | Away | Loss | 37-51 |
| Nov. 16 at 6 pm | Atlanta | Away | Loss | 59-63 |
| Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm | Haughton (tournament) | Away | Loss | 21-62 |
| Nov. 19 at 6:30 pm | Quitman (tournament) | Away | Loss | 28-42 |
| Nov. 20 at 6:30 pm | Ringgold (tournament) | Away | Win | 58-27 |
| Nov. 22 at 6 pm | Arcadia | Home | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Nov. 30 at 5 pm | Calvin | Home | Win | 43-39 |
| Dec. 2 at 7:30 pm | Castor (parish tournament) | Away | Loss | 38-49 |
| Dec. 7 at 6 pm | Lincoln Preparatory School | Home | Win | 46-11 |
| Dec. 9 at 6:30 pm | Cedar Creek (tournament) | Away | Loss | 33-56 |
| Dec. 11 at 2:30 pm | Haughton (tournament) | Away | Loss | 33-43 |
| Dec. 13 at 6 pm | Simsboro | Away | Win | 49-47 |
| Dec. 14 at 6 pm | Ringgold | Away | Win | 62-20 |
| Dec. 17 at 6 pm | Choudrant | Home | ||
| Dec. 21 at 6 pm | D’Arbonne Woods Charter | Away | ||
| Dec. 30 at 5 pm | Atlanta | Home | ||
| Dec. 30 at 6 pm | Red River | Home | ||
| Jan. 6 at 6 pm | Cedar Creek | Home | ||
| Jan. 7 at 6 pm | Union Parish | Away | ||
| Jan. 10 at 5 pm | Negreet | Home | ||
| Jan. 11 at 6 pm | Weston | Home | ||
| Jan. 14 at 6 pm | Ebarb | Away | ||
| Jan. 18 at 6 pm | Quitman | Away | ||
| Jan. 21 at 6 pm | Dodson (district) | Home | ||
| Jan. 25 at 6 pm | Doyline (district) | Away | ||
| Jan. 27 at 6 pm | Jonesboro-Hodge | Away | ||
| Jan. 28 at 6 pm | Castor (district) | Away | ||
| Feb. 1 at 6 pm | Dodson (district) | Away | ||
| Feb. 4 at 6 pm | Doyline (district) | Home | ||
| Feb. 8 at 6 pm | Castor (district) | Home |
| Saline Tournaments | From | To |
| Choudrant | Nov. 4 | Nov. 6 |
| Calvin | Nov. 11 | Nov. 13 |
| Saline | Nov. 18 | Nov. 20 |
| Cedar Creek | Dec. 9 | Dec. 11 |
Acting on a tip, Bienville sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant Monday and discovered 11 starving dogs, one cat, two snakes, and the bodies of two other animals, an iguana and chameleon, at an abandoned residence at 240 Bridges Rd, Ringgold. The investigation revealed that the owners were already incarcerated on other charges and left their animals unattended. Deputies arrested Cody Ryan Murray, who was already incarcerated at the Bienville Parish Jail, and charged him with 15 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. His bond was set at $150,000. His partner, Heather Hodges, who was also already incarcerated at the Caddo Detention Center, has not been formally charged but has a detainer for her arrest for the same 15 counts of cruelty.
To help house and treat the animals, deputies again reached out to the Humane Society of Louisiana, which partnered with the sheriff’s department last month and accepted custody of 14 dogs that had also been neglected and abandoned by their owners.
In this case, family members took some of the dogs and the cat from the residence as soon as they realized they were not being adequately cared for. With the help of local veterinarians, HSLA accepted custody of five dogs and two ball python snakes. The Jonesboro Vet Clinic, which housed and treated the previous 14 abandoned dogs, took in these additional five. PetStar Vet Clinic in Bossier City accepted temporary custody of the two snakes. All the rescued animals are expected to make full recoveries.
“We thank our wonderful partners for helping to coordinate the transfer of these animals to different facilities where they can be treated and recover from their ordeal,” HSLA Director Jeff Dorson said. “These animals were saved by the quick action of the deputies who investigated the crime and the two veterinarians who provided their expertise and clinical support to help these survivors. It’s very difficult for the parish to seize this many animals at one time since Bienville does not operate a public animal shelter or have paid animal control officers who typically would have responded to this type of complaint. But we are grateful for this opportunity because we get to meet some extraordinary individuals who are working very hard to improve Bienville Parish.”
HSLA estimates that it will cost them more than $10,000 to treat and house the dogs seized from these two cases. Those wishing to donate toward their care may send a check or money order to the Humane Society of Louisiana, P.O. Box 740321, New Orleans, LA 70174, or donate on its website at www.humanela.org under “Donate”. All contributions are tax-deductible.
Established in 1988, the Humane Society is one of the largest animal protection organizations in the state. For more information, please visit its website at www.humanela.org.
The Police Jury held their regular monthly meeting Wednesday, December 8th. Included in this meeting was the appointment of numerous board members throughout the parish. Please see the video and official minutes from the meeting below.
On Friday, the Louisiana Department of Education released the 2021 School Performance Scores. The scores of the majority of schools in the state decreased due to the difficulties in teaching during the pandemic. Saline experienced a 2.2 point drop from 92.8 in 2019 to 90.6 in 2021, but maintained their status as an “A” school.
A representative of Saline posted that “since the 2015-2016 school year, we have continued our pursuit of excellence and maintained our status as an “A” school. We are being recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education as a Top Gains School. Congratulations to our faculty and students on their hard work, achievement, and success! We would also like to thank our parents, community, and Bienville Parish schools family for your continued support and for always pushing us to be our best.”
Congratulations to everyone at Saline High School for your Top Gains School achievement!!!
| School | 2021 SPS | 2019 SPS | Increase/Decrease |
| Arcadia High School | 81.7 | 77.3 | +4.4 |
| Castor High School | 88.9 | 91.1 | -2.2 |
| Crawford Elementary | 48.3 | 50.5 | -2.2 |
| Gibsland-Coleman | 58.7 | 64.2 | -5.5 |
| Ringgold Elementary | 54.8 | 61.2 | -6.4 |
| Ringgold High School | 75.4 | 74.8 | +0.6 |
| Saline High School | 90.6 | 92.8 | -2.2 |
Below are two sample ballots for the upcoming December 11th election to be held in Bienville Parish. This is a parish-wide election for the School District Proposition, every voter in the parish will have the opportunity to cast their ballot on this issue. The second ballot includes a Proposition for Ward 7 Fire District. Only voters who reside within that district will have this ballot.
Take a look at the sample ballots for this election below.
On Tuesday, December 7, Louisiana Tech announced the names of students on its Fall Quarter President’s and Dean’s honor lists. Included in that list were several students from our parish.
Students whose names are followed by an asterisk earned recognition as members of the president’s honor list. That distinction signifies achievement of at least a 3.8 academic grade point average on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher), with no grade lower than a B.
To be eligible for the dean’s honor lists, a student is required to earn at least a 3.5 academic grade point average with no grade lower than a C on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher).
Courses yielding satisfactory/failure grades and courses audited do not count toward eligibility for either recognition. Only undergraduates with no incomplete grades are eligible to make either list.
Honor students are listed below by their hometowns.
There were a reported 15 crashes with 20 fatalities on state highways over the Thanksgiving holiday from Nov. 24 to Nov. 29. While the Thanksgiving weekend is usually considered the holiday with the most crashes, there remains more than a month left in the holiday season. This Thanksgiving travel weekend was the most deadly Louisiana has seen in seven years.
Louisiana State Police reported that several crashes were caused by speeding, impaired drivers, and distracted driving. Some of the deaths were related to individuals not using their seat belt. Seat belts are the number one safety feature in a vehicle and they can save a life when used properly.
“My biggest concern is that we have suffered way too many fatalities in crashes that could have been avoided,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. “With the distracted driving, impaired drivers and speeding, our state’s worst problem when it comes to these crashes is driver error. It’s no wonder why the state is one of 16 that missed safety targets two years in a row. We need everyone to be responsible drivers so we can cut down on crashes and fatalities and be a safer state.”
“The increase in fatal and serious injury crashes is disturbing. Preliminary fatality statistics for 2021 have already surpassed those in 2020,” said Colonel Lamar Davis, Louisiana State Police Superintendent. “In 2021, nearly 900 people have died on Louisiana roadways. These deaths can be prevented by remaining vigilant while driving and following the laws. The hardest part of a trooper’s job is delivering death notifications to families, and you can help us prevent those notifications by driving the posted speed limit, using seat belts, driving sober and remaining attentive. Please call us at *LSP (*577) when you witness aggressive and unsafe drivers. We want all of our Louisiana citizens and visitors to enjoy the holiday season and not have to face tragedy.”
“There are already too many empty seats at holiday tables this year because of COVID-19,” said Lisa Freeman, Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. “Deaths resulting from impaired driving, distracted driving or not wearing a seat belt are preventable tragedies, and we owe it to ourselves and our families to avoid those consequences and to make smart decisions when traveling this holiday season.”
“I strongly urge all Louisiana drivers to please, put the phone down and pay attention to your fellow drivers. A moment is not worth a life,” said Senator Patrick McMath, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.
“Holidays in Louisiana are a wonderful time to be with family and friends, but they can become a tragedy if we’re not safe on the roads,” said Representative Mark Wright, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee. “Drive safely—the extra time and attention are worth it.”
With Christmas and New Year’s approaching, motorists should expect to see an increase in traffic and should drive using the following safety tips:
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is encouraging deer hunters to have their harvest tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) free of charge as LDWF continues its intensive sampling effort to detect the disease.
The test will provide reliable assurance to hunters that CWD was not detected in the animals they harvested. It will also assist LDWF in its statewide effort to monitor for the disease. CWD has not been detected in Louisiana but has been found in deer in Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.
A 2.5 year-old female white-tailed deer in Union County, Arkansas, 7.5 miles north of the Louisiana-Arkansas border, was found to have the disease last month. LDWF has implemented its CWD Response Plan and has increased ongoing CWD surveillance in Morehouse and Union parishes due to their proximity to the CWD detection.
Hunters who would like to have their harvested deer tested for CWD are encouraged to visit our CWD testing website and follow the steps outlined on that page so a sample can be submitted to the nearest LDWF Field Office.
“It’s vital to our effort in keeping tabs on CWD to have hunters provide us with samples,’’ said State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Jim LaCour. “There are many ways in which we acquire samples and participation from hunters is our best avenue as we work to keep CWD from entering our state. The more testing that is done the better. The test also gives hunters peace of mind.’’
LDWF aims for a complete turnaround of two weeks, allowing hunters to quickly get their results in time to enjoy their venison.
To begin the sampling process, hunters can:
Here are the LDWF Field Offices and contact info:
CWD is a neurodegenerative disease found in most deer species, including Louisiana’s native white-tailed deer. It is infectious, always fatal, and there is no treatment. It’s part of a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and is similar to BSE (mad cow disease) in cattle and scrapie in sheep. These diseases cause irreversible damage to brain tissue, which leads to excessive salivation, neurological symptoms, emaciation, and death of the animal.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no evidence that CWD has infected humans. However, the CDC recommends caution in handling venison in infected regions and that deer be tested for CWD before consuming. CWD positive deer should not be consumed by people.
CWD has been documented in 26 states and three Canadian provinces.
LDWF has been sampling for CWD since 2002. To date, over 12,000 samples have been tested and CWD has not been detected in Louisiana.
Detailed instructions and more information can be found here.
For more information on CWD, click here.
