By Pat Culverhouse

Webster Parish has a new deputy sheriff. He’s a lot younger than your average deputy, but he’s packed a lot of life into only 12 years. He’s much smaller than your average law enforcer, but when it comes to spirit and courage there’s nobody bigger.

Meet Devarjaye “D.J.” Daniel. “Welcome to the family,” said Sheriff Jason Parker during a special swearing-in ceremony Wednesday at the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s substation in Bossier City.

Parker joined a dozen law enforcement agencies from Bienville, Webster, Bossier and Caddo parishes plus points in between to make D.J. a certified, badge-carrying member of their departments. After Wednesday, he’s also an ID-carrying Louisiana State Police trooper.

D.J. is now a sworn member of more than 830 law enforcement agencies across the country. And the number will continue to climb. He’s scheduled for more swearings-in later this week in the northwest Louisiana area.

How, one may ask, is a 12-year-old youngster from Houston, Texas gaining the attention and affection of so many departments nationwide? Simple. It’s his dream to become a law enforcement officer everywhere he can…while he can.

At the age of six and a half, DJ was diagnosed with a rare form of brain and spinal cancer. He was given five months to live….six years ago. According to his dad, Theodis Daniel, the thing that has kept him going well beyond the doctor’s time table is his love for law enforcement.

His dad told officials gathered for the special ceremony that D.J. has wanted to be a part of law enforcement since he was a youngster, stranded along with his family and thousands of others in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

“There were practically no supplies or food or water for us at the center where we were staying, but some police officers came by and asked if the kids would like some pizza,” Theodis Daniel said. “D.J. saw those officers, even when little to nothing was available, helping everyone they could. That’s what he decided he wanted to do.”

Following his diagnosis, D.J. and his family began reaching out to law enforcement with his story and the response has been overwhelming.

“How could anyone not want to be a part of something like this for someone this special,” Parker said. “This young man is a testimony to determination and courage. Those are traits we hope to find in all our personnel, and he’s providing us an example even as a young person. It was a pleasure to meet him and to just be around him.”

D.J.’s personality is larger than his small body. When he’s not hugging every officer within arm’s reach, he’s rubbing the bald heads of those who choose to go hairless and exchanging beyond-his-years quips with anyone who engages in conversation.

“I think I need to hire you as my full-time motivational officer,” Bossier City Chief of Police 

Daniel Haugen said while presenting the BCPD ID and badge.

D.J.’s plans are to continue traveling the country to become a member of any law enforcement department willing to accept him. His goal is 1,000.

“This is what keeps him going,” Theodis Daniel said. “It’s the love and support he receives from all of you. It’s the camaraderie and the compassion of each and every one of you. He will keep going until he just can’t.”

By Wesley Harris

From the lakes of north Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico, there’s no shortage of prime fishing spots in the Bayou State, and summertime means anglers take full advantage of those bountiful resources.

Fishing tournaments become one of the summer activities of choice for seasoned pros with their fancy boats and top-notch gear to weekend warriors with trusty old rods and a cooler full of snacks.

The tourneys provide a chance to have a good time and perhaps win a little prize money.

But the popular contests can have a dark side as some participants seek every advantage, even illegal ones.

Some Louisiana tournaments offer big prizes—thousands of dollars, new boats, top-of-the-line gear. When big money is involved, a few unscrupulous anglers seek unfair advantages despite strict rules and precautions.

Last week, wildlife and fisheries enforcement agents arrested a Pollock man for alleged bass fishing contest violations on Toledo Bend.

Agents arrested Aaron Moreau, 38, for fishing contest fraud.

The arrest occurred after directors of the Big Bass Splash tournament at Toledo Bend reported a participant placing lead weights in a fish he caught on May 17.

When enforcement agents arrived at Toledo Bend, they determined Moreau had placed 2.59 pounds of lead weights inside a fish he used for weigh-in and then fled the scene.

Agents obtained an arrest warrant and Moreau turned himself in on May 23. He was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center.

When the most valuable prize offered in a Louisiana fishing contest amounts to a value of $100 or more, offenders face a fine of up to $3,000 and up to one year in jail or both.

The grand prize of the Big Bass Splash tourney included a fully equipped Phoenix 721 Pro XP bass boat, a Dodge Ram truck, and $5,000, a package valued over $100,000.

Northwestern State University announced the names of 583 students who were named on the Spring 2024 Honor List. Students on the Honor List must be enrolled full-time at Northwestern and have a grade point average of between 3.0 and 3.49. 

The students in Bienville Parish are as follows:

Arcadia — Cameron Jackson; 

Gibsland — Madison Mullens; 

Ringgold — Kaylee Cook; 

Saline — Racel Quintana; 

Northwestern State University announces the names of 498 students named to the President’s List for the Spring 2024 semester.  Students on the President’s List must be enrolled full-time at Northwestern and have a grade point average of 4.0. 

Students from Bienville Parish are as follows:

Arcadia – Lauryn Vernon;  

Bienville – Rafe Martin;

Castor – Miracle Tomerlin;  

Gibsland – Cameron Murphy;  

Ringgold – Avery Myers;  

Northwestern State University named 749 students to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2024 semester.  Students on the Dean’s List must be enrolled full time and earn a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.99.   

Students from Bienville Parish are as follows:

Bienville – Saragh Holzem, Lindsay Macynski;  

Gibsland – Xaivion Haulcy;  

Ringgold – Jack Stanley, Dakota Weathers;  

Saline – Kiley Hough, Hannah Leggett

Ray passed away peacefully surrounded  by family on May 21, 2024. He was born in Arcadia, LA as the first child of Earl and Willa B. Willis and sister to Auburn Davis. In 1961, Ray wed Joan Mathieu and had three children who survived him: Stephen Willis, Denise Levenberry, and Joy Carter (Jerry); 9 grandchildren: Nathaniel Causley, III, Benet Willis, Eric Levenberry, Jr., Dasia and Lena Willis, Jerry Carter, Jr., Danielle and Elise Levenberry, and Brandon Carter; two great granddaughters, Hayden and Joanet Willis, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ray served for 30 years as an officer in the Army and retired at the rank of colonel. A memorial service will be held at Fort Myer Memorial Chapel; burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date to be determined. Arrangements by Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA.

You may have heard of the speech of Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker, Harrison Butker, to the graduating class of Benedictine College. 

The speech and Butker have been attacked and criticized nationally for his supposedly “chauvinistic” and sexist views.  

As such, it’s only fair to review the speech but before I do, I point out that Butker was not making the speech on national TV or radio. He wasn’t even addressing a Facebook or X audience and he clearly wasn’t “at the office in his uniform” representing the Chiefs or the NFL. 

In contrast, it was Colin Kaepernick who, on the sidelines of games in his San Francisco 49ers uniform, representing his team and the NFL, knelt down during our National Anthem and disrespected our flag and the 1.1 million American soldiers who fought and died in defense of our country and who were laid to rest with the American flag draping their coffins.  

Also, while Butker spoke lovingly and respectfully of the role of women and mothers, the NFL rebuked him for his lack of “diversity.”  This is the same NFL whose rampant domestic abuse problem by its players is so bad the league was forced to set up a National Domestic Violence hotline to try to salvage its reputation with pro football fans, particularly women. 

Again, Butker offered his remarks at Benedictine College, a small Catholic school where principles like the ones he shared serve as the central purpose of the school’s existence and why parents send their children to it.  This is, again, a distinguishing fact between him and Kaepernick, who broadcast his disrespect for our nation on national television to the entire nation and indeed to the world.

So, at a Christian Catholic college Butker spoke out against LGBT Pride month stating he preferred “God-centered pride.” He also specifically addressed the women graduating from the college:  “I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you.  Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

Butker praised his wife, Isabelle, explaining that he is “able to be the man that I am” because his wife has taken on a role as a homemaker.  He also encouraged the men to “be unapologetic in [their] masculinity” and spoke out against “the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion,” arguing, “we fear speaking truth because now, unfortunately, truth is in the minority.” 

Millions of Americans agree with these remarks.

I was delighted to witness the courage and outspokenness of Tavia Hunt, the wife of Chiefs co-owner Clark Hunt, who took to Instagram in response:

“”I’ve always encouraged my daughters to be highly educated and chase their dreams.  I want them to know that they can do whatever they want (that honors God).  But I also want them to know that I believe finding a spouse who loves and honors you as or before himself and raising a family together is one of the greatest blessings this world has to offer.”  

Directly addressing Butker’s remarks she stated that “affirming motherhood and praising your wife, as well as highlighting the sacrifice and dedication it takes to be a mother, is not bigoted.  It is empowering to acknowledge that a woman’s hard work in raising children is not in vain.  Countless highly educated women devote their lives to nurturing and guiding their children.” 

Beautifully stated.

However, these timeless truths are not the reason I write today.

I write to highlight the fact that no one is required to agree with Butker.  People are free to disagree, and many have in a vicious and vitriolic way.  

My point is that he was addressing a specific audience with a specific message and every reason to believe that audience was open to hearing and considering his message.  Unfortunately, what he stated is apparently too faith-based and moral to even be uttered and must be torn down.

This is the Cancel Culture.  This is what unvarnished censorship looks like.  Butker’s ideas are so powerful that they must not be voiced.   

On a side note, the sale of Butker’s NFL jersey has skyrocketed to the top of NFL sales.

This kind of censorship simply cannot be allowed if the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution are to endure.

(Shreveport attorney, Royal Alexander, worked in D.C. in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 8 years for two different Members of Congress from Louisiana.  He has witnessed up close several Speaker races.)

For the 26-plus years this column has been in existence I have typed over 1,000 words a week, every week, never missing a week. That’s over 1,300,000 total words published in your newspaper. These days, in addition to newspapers, this column is also consumed online and through email subscriptions. 

In the early days I took controversial stances on a few topics. The posturing was lighthearted and never about anything serious but, at one time or another, I received hate mail from PETA, the Girl Scouts, people who eat possum, Hormel the manufacturers of Spam, and fans of Barbra Streisand. Those were the days before I found my voice and there was a lot of forced humor in the writing. 

In 2011, I took a long overseas trip with my family. Over a six month period we travelled to 17 countries and 72 cities on two continents. That is when the worm turned in my writing and I found my voice. I had no other choice. I was in challenging conditions and the only option was to be true to myself and the words on the page. Since then, I have shied away from humor and have focused on writing what I know— food, travel, family, the South, and growing up in the South. 

I feel blessed to have grown up in the South, actually the Deep South. Geographically and emotionally, it doesn’t get any deeper than the south in which I reside— the Piney Woods of Mississippi. I feel fortunate to be a sixth generation citizen of this area. The Piney Woods have been blessed by geographical proximity. We are one hour north of the Gulf of Mexico and benefit from the outstanding bounty of seafood that comes from those warm waters, and 90 minutes northeast of New Orleans, a city that is home to the most unique and flavor-rich food in the country. 

We value faith, family, friends, food, and fun down here. Family and food are on my mind this morning. To be more specific, it’s mayonnaise. 

Today I’ll take what might appear to be a controversial stance to some. But, unlike the old days, I won’t take the stance for comedic effect, and it is far from a controversial stance to me. This I believe to my core— Blue Plate mayonnaise is the best mayonnaise. Better than Hellman’s. Better than Kewpie. And yes, better than Duke’s. Period. End of discussion.

Southerners are religiously true to a product, team, or cause. It’s why football rivalries are so heated in this region. We believe deeply and devoutly in our teams. 

Blue Plate mayonnaise is my team. 

To someone from the Northeast or Pacific Coast, the American South is anything below the Mason-Dixon line. To those of us who live down here, the South is more complex than that. Virginia is considered the South, and on many maps so is Texas. West Texas and the Northern Neck of Virginia are worlds apart. 

My South covers Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, The Florida Panhandle, Kentucky, parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Louisiana. So, what does that have to do with mayonnaise? 

The difference between South Carolina and Louisiana can be determined between their two most famous cities— Charleston and New Orleans. Both cities were settled early, both are port cities, both have loads of charm, enchanting histories, and storied pasts. Though Charleston was settled by the British. New Orleans was settled by the French. Therein lies the difference in the sentimentality, therein lies the disparity in the food.

The difference between South Carolina and Louisiana can also be determined by the mayonnaises that were born there. Duke’s was born in Greenville, South Carolina. Blue Plate was born and raised in New Orleans. A few years ago, Blue Plate moved its manufacturing to another great southern state, Tennessee. But the recipe and flavor profile are 100% New Orleans. It will always be a New Orleans mayonnaise in my book. I prefer New Orleans over Charleston and I prefer Blue Plate mayonnaise over Duke’s. 

Duke’s has become all the rage as of late. I had never heard of Duke’s a decade ago. It wasn’t that I was disconnected. My life is food and the food business. I live in the Deep South. I don’t hunt, fish, or play golf. Food and restaurants are my hobby. It’s what I do. I have spent 43 years in the restaurant business and 62 years as a devout disciple of southern food. A few years back, when I began to hear a few chefs I know— along with a couple of regional publications— begin to mention Duke’s mayonnaise I wondered if they may be on to something. I watched as it seemed to become the trendy selection of a few southern foodies and food writers. I tried it. It wasn’t Blue Plate.

When I was a kid there was only Hellman’s and Blue Plate. Duke’s wasn’t available in this area. My mother used Blue Plate, her mother used Blue Plate, and her mother preferred Blue Plate. It’s in my genetic makeup by now. 

Blue Plate is better, and I’ll die on that hill. Is it because they use only egg yolks? Maybe. Is it because of the bright acidity? Perhaps. Is it because the tanginess factor has been tweaked just right? Possibly. Is it because my family has been using it for generations? One could make an argument based on that assumption. But, in the end— and after all the newfound hype, bowl games, magazine features, and superstar endorsements for the other guys— Blue Plate just tastes better. 

I was a part of a true blind taste test earlier in the year. Blue Plate won. To me, it wasn’t even close. It’s not just me. The food writers at “Epicurious” blind taste-tested more than a dozen mayonnaises and Blue Plate won out. That’s no surprise to me. But to all the Duke’s devotees out there— many of whom are my good friends— you might want to try a blind taste test for yourselves.

So, there it is. It will certainly be an unpopular opinion among a few of my contemporaries and colleagues. It’s been a couple of decades since I received hate mail because of this column, and I am ready to stand my ground against all the Dukies out there. I have acidity, viscosity, brightness, and flavor on my side. But don’t come at me unless you’ve done a blind taste test, side-by-side against the best commercially produced mayonnaise in the history of mayonnaise, Blue Plate.

Homemade is best. Blue Plate is next.

Onward.

Comeback Sauce (Mississippi’s House Dressing)

2 cups Blue Plate Mayonnaise

1 cups Ketchup

1 cup Chili sauce

1 cup Cottonseed Oil

1 Large Onion, diced

1 /3 cup Lemon juice, freshly squeezed

4 Tbl Garlic, minced

2 Tbl Paprika

2 Tbl Water

2 Tbl Worcestershire

1 Tbl. Pepper

2 tsp Dry mustard

2 tsp Salt

Puree all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Allow to sit overnight in refrigerator before use.

(Robert St. John is a chef, restaurateur and published cookbook author who lives in Hattiesburg, Miss.)

Please send all non-profit calendar events to bpjnewsla@gmail.com

June 21 (8 a.m.)

Arcadia Historic Railway District Inaugural Golf Tournament

July 11 – 12

Saline Watermelon Festival Pageant – Saline High School Gymnasium

July 13 

Saline Watermelon Festival 

September 6 & 7 

The Riley Jinks Memorial Rodeo, Ringgold

October 12 (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Car Show with Prizes, Raffles, Cake Auction and Food Trucks benefiting CASA

1952 N. Railroad Ave, Arcadia, La. 

Notice of Death – May 30, 2024

Mary Winzer Kimble

Nov. 01, 1935 – May 24, 2024

Homer, La. 

Visitation: 1 – 6 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2024, Memorial Funeral Home, Homer, La. 

Funeral service: 2:30 p.m., Saturday, June 01, 2024, Point Pleasant CME Church, Homer, La. 

Interment: Point Pleasant Cemetery, Homer, La. 

Marvin Henson, Sr. 

Aug. 09, 1966 – May 25, 2024

Ringgold, La.

Visitation: 2 – 6 p.m., Friday, June 07, 2024, Memorial Funeral Home, Ringgold, La. 

Funeral service: 11 a.m., Saturday, June 08, 2024, St. Savior Baptist Church, Coushatta, La. 

Interment: Luke Cemetery, Coushatta, La. 

Bienville Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or bpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are no charge.)

Things kicked off Friday night, May 24, for the 31st annual Authentic Bonnie and Clyde Festival with a historians’ meeting held at the Gibsland Grill. Owner of the Ambush Museum Perry Carver lined up several guest speakers including Buddy Barrow Williams, Rhea-Leen Linder, Bert Largent and Ben Hendrickson.

On Saturday, the Lions Club held their annual pancake breakfast. Visitors were able to get their bellies full before shopping with numerous vendors lining the street downtown selling anything from paintings, food, clothing, homemade goods, jewelry and more. The museum was open all day at no charge for visitors, who came in to see Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia and artifacts collected by “Boots” Hinton, son of Ted Hinton, a Dallas County deputy who participated in the ambush. 

Entertainment including music, Bingo, cake walks, a look-a-like contest, parade and shootouts took place throughout the day all leading up to a reenactment at the historic ambush site by Public Enemies of 1934. 

This organization has been performing 1930’s era reenactments since the 1980;s; first as Reenactments, E.T.C. and later as Public Enemies of 1934. Public Enemies of 1934 performs at the annual Authentic Bonnie & Clyde Festival in Gibsland; the Great River Festival in Mason City, Iowa, home of the First National Bank robbed by Dillinger in 1934; the Chisholm Trail Museum, Kingfisher, Oklahoma., where Wilbur Underhill the “Tri-State Terror” robbed the local bank; the biennial Roaring Twenties event at Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, Kansas; as well as appearing on The History Channel, Discovery Channel and A&E. Their multi-state membership includes historians, published authors, researchers, re-enactors, motion picture technicians, and law enforcement; sorry – no real bank robbers.

Next year’s festival is already on the books and set for May 23-24, 2025. The Bonnie & Clyde Ambush Museum is open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 2419 Main Street in Gibsland. 

As the school year winds down and the sunny days of summer approach, the Bienville Parish Library staff eagerly anticipate the annual Summer Reading Program kick-off event. The theme for this year’s program, “Adventure Begins at the Library!” invites readers of all ages to embark on literary journeys that span across fantastical worlds, historical epochs, and thrilling mysteries. The kick-off event, scheduled for the Bienville Parish Libraries, will feature the Didgeridoo Down Under show.  

DIDGERIDOO DOWN UNDER!
“Adventure Down Under” is perfect for the Summer Reading Program theme. The performers will allow us to hear otherworldly sounds from the didgeridoo, and explore the Great Barrier Reef and the Outback.  We’ll learn about amazing creatures like kangaroos, koalas, and much more! The Didgeridoo Down Under show is an energetic fusion of Australian music, culture, comedy, character-building, storytelling, and audience movement/participation. It’s interactive, educational, motivational, and fun for all ages!

REGISTER AND START READING
Participants of the Summer Reading Program can register, pick up their program materials, and get started reading. They will receive reading logs and information on how to track their progress and earn special brag tags.

BRAG TAGS ARE BACK!

When you register for the Summer Reading Program you’ll also “snag” your first brag tag!  Preventing the “summer slide” continues to be the main objective of summer reading programs. This reading incentive gives readers extra motivation to read and collect all ten tags. It will impress teachers with how many books/pages they read during their summer vacation!

The 2024 Summer Reading Program is designed to help:

• Children be motivated to read.
• Children develop positive attitudes about reading, books, and the library.
• Children maintain their reading skills during summer vacation.
• Children have access to experiences that further their sense of discovery.
• Children have access to experiences through which they can learn to work cooperatively.
• Most of all – HAVE FUN!

SCHEDULE AND PERFORMANCE TIMES
Children, parents, or guardians are encouraged to stay for the kick-off performance and what will happen throughout the summer. Here are the schedule and times for each Bienville Parish Library for the “Adventure Down Under”:

Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Gibsland Branch at 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 6, 2024
Arcadia Main at 10:00 a.m.  
Ringgold Branch at 2:00p.m.

Friday, June 7, 2024
Castor Branch at 10:00 a.m.
Saline Branch at 2:00 p.m.

MY TOWN SCAVENGER HUNT!
Children and parents who love a good scavenger hunt can pick up a “My Town Scavenger Hunt”. Hidden throughout their town are cards with QR Codes that give clues to the locations of five QR cards hidden somewhere in town.  Find all five QR Codes and you get a sweet treat!

Look for the Pull & Post Fridge Flyer in the Bienville Parish Library Event Guide for times and a list of performers. You’ll also find all you need to know at your Bienville Parish Library and in the Summer Reading Program brochure!  You’ll also find all you need to know at: www.bienvillelibrary.org

SEE YOU AT THE LIBRARY!

It’s hard to believe, but football season is quickly approaching and Bienville Parish Journal is in need of someone to cover Bienville Parish high school games this fall. No experience needed.

Please join our team for football season! BPJ pays per story. Email bpjnewsla@gmail.com if you would like to be a part of the fastest growing online publication in the parish.

Bertie is a historical figure who is often overlooked or discounted as a failure, but was he?  Bertie was born in Iowa in 1874.  His father, Jesse, owned a farm implement store.  His mother’s name was Hulda.  He had an older brother and eventually, a younger sister.  In 1880, Bertie’s father died from a sudden heart attack at the young age of 34.  Four years later, his mother died from Typhoid fever.  Ten-year-old Bertie and his two siblings were orphans.  In 1885, Bertie and his siblings went to Newberg, Oregon, to live with their uncle, a businessman named John Minthorn.  Uncle John managed a real estate office called the Oregon Land Company.  Bertie dropped out of school at the age of 13 to work in Uncle John’s land company. 

In 1891, Bertie enrolled in the first class of the brand new Stanford University.  He initially studied mechanical engineering but changed his major to geology after working with Dr. John Casper Branner, the chairman of Stanford’s geology department.  In 1894, a strong-minded 20-year-old woman named Lou Henry attended a geology lecture by Dr. Branner and was hooked.  Shortly thereafter, she enrolled at Stanford.  There, she met Bertie and the two became inseparable.  A year after her graduation, Bertie and Lou married.  Soon thereafter, Bertie accepted a position as leading engineer in a private Chinese engineering and mining company.  The newlyweds packed their meager belongings and moved to Tientsin, China. 

At the time, tensions were rising in China.  In June 1900, the Boxer Rebellion erupted in Tientsin.  The Boxer Rebellion was an anti-foreign, anti-imperialist, and anti-Christian uprising in North China between 1899 and 1901 by the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, known as the “Boxers” in English due to many of its members having practiced Chinese martial arts, which at the time were referred to as “Chinese boxing.”  For almost a month, Tientsin was under heavy fire. While Lou worked in the hospitals, Bertie directed the building of barricades.  On July 14, 1901, a multi-national military force defeated the “boxers” in the Battle of Tientsin. 

After the rebellion, Bertie and Lou moved to London where Bertie specialized in fixing failing mining companies.  Rather than being paid a salary, Bertie took a percentage of the profits if he was able to rejuvenate the companies.  Within a short time, Bertie had investments in mines on every continent and had offices in several countries.  His talents as a geologist quickly made him wealthy.  By 1914, Bertie’s wealth reached approximately $4 million.  That would be over $125 million in today’s money. 

Bertie wrote the book on mining.  Seriously.  In 1909, he published a book called “Principles of Mining” which became a standard textbook for geologists.  Bertie and Lou were huge fans of Georgius Agricola’s 16^th century work on mining and metallurgy called “De re Metallica.”  In 1912, they published the first English translation of “De re Metallica.”  At about the same time, Bertie joined the board of trustees at his alma mater, Stanford.  Bertie was happy with the trajectory of his life.  He had a loving wife and two wonderful children.  Then something happened which forever changed his life’s trajectory. 

In 1914, Germany declared war on France.  The American Consul General asked for Bertie’s help in getting stranded American tourists back home.  With the backing of Congress and President Woodrow Wilson, Bertie was selected as the committee’s chairman.  He acted immediately.  Within two weeks, his committee helped more 100,000 Americans return to the United States.  Bertie said later, “I did not realize it at the moment, but on August 3, 1914, my career was over forever.  I was on the slippery road of public life.”

In August 1914, Germany invaded Belgium, which created a food crisis.  Germany refused to take responsibility to feed citizens in captured territory.  At this point, the United States declared neutrality in what was the early part of World War I.  Something had to be done.  With the cooperation of President Wilson’s administration, Bertie led a Belgian relief organization called the Commission for Relief in Belgium.  Bertie made 40 trips to meet with German authorities in the North Sea and persuaded them to allow food shipments.  Under Bertie’s leadership, the commission delivered millions of tons of foodstuffs to Belgium.  In 1915, the commission expanded and delivered supplies to people in the German-occupied Northern France.  American diplomat Walter Page said Bertie was “probably the only man living who has privately negotiated understandings with the British, French, German, Dutch, and Belgian governments.”  Remember, Bertie held no political office.

When the United States entered World War I, President Wilson remembered how well Bertie had handled the Commission for Relief in Belgium and France and appointed him to head the U.S. Food Administration.  Bertie’s herculean task was to manage the country’s food supplies during the war.  To avoid rationing, which other wartime countries were forced to undertake, Bertie established set days for people to avoid eating certain foods including the cleverly named meatless Mondays and wheatless Wednesdays.  The plan worked and allowed the Food Administration to send foodstuffs to allies of the United States.  Bertie was referred to as an expert administrator for his work.

After the war, Europe still faced food shortages.  The Food Administration, whose name changed to the American Relief Administration, provided food to central and eastern Europe.  Bertie also founded the European Children’s Fund to provide food and aid to some fifteen million children from 14 countries.  Despite his request that he not be named in publicity for the food program, Bertie’s selfless work during the war made him a public hero.  His abilities were also praised when he worked as Secretary of Commerce under presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin “Silent Cal” Coolidge.  Despite going from being an orphan to a multimillionaire, personally negotiating with leaders of warring nations to provide aid which potentially saved the lives of millions of people in multiple countries, Bertie is often considered a failure.  How is this possible?  When the stock market crashed in the fall of 1929 followed shortly thereafter by the Great Depression, Bertie was the president of the United States.  Bertie was the family nickname for Herbert Hoover.

Sources:

1.     “Herbert Hoover,” The White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/herbert-hoover/.

2.     The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, https://hoover.archives.go

A look in the rearview mirror at Louisiana Tech’s 2024 baseball season (so far) from someone who’s been there … 

(Editor’s Note: Odd circumstances put me on the road with the team and, despite that, the guys ended up winning Conference USA’s regular season title and survived a metaphorical fistfight to finish runner-up in the conference tournament last week. They bring a 45-15 record and want-to into Friday’s 7 p.m. scrap against Kansas State, 32-24, in the Fayetteville Regional.)

Tech’s 12-0 start included its first road game of the year, a 20 hits, 13 runs whupping of McNeese in Lake Charles in cold weather, and by “cold” we mean 47-below 0. With a wind blowing in from left. It was so cold I saw a lawyer with his hands in his own pockets.

The final part of trip was a championship at the three-day Battle at the Ballpark in Sugar Land, Texas, which was a semi-synopsis of the whole season, minus the losses. 

• Tech beat Army, 4-0, scoring all the game’s runs in the eighth, the final pair on a homer by centerfielder Cole McConnell, who at that point in Tech’s 9-0 season had 4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts — and 0 singles.
• Beat pain-in-the-ass Creighton, 12-0. Creighton’s voice carries, put it that way. The walk-off blow — a three-run, line-drive tater by Ethan Bates.
• Beat Air Force, 8-5, after trailing 5-0.
• Tech’s Bates was the DH and Reliever and MVP on the All-Tournament team — and was last week named the 2024 Most Outstanding Player in CUSA.

On the bus trip home, we started losing power near Grambling, regained it, limped off Interstate 20 and onto Tech Drive, and crawled to a stop at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson in the middle of the night. Without anyone knowing it, we’d just experienced the season in mini-form: some blowouts, some tight wins, and some flats that almost made you pull over.

And it was only the first week of March.

In Miami for three games, three guys went for separate walks and were attacked by the same bird on the same morning, a Hitchcockian affair we all witnessed on the team bus to the game that afternoon when the same bird at the same spot attacked some unsuspecting sap. Major laughs. And sadly, the highlight of the 1-2 trip.

There was the hotel where you had to turn in a Magic Ticket for breakfast, and the hotel in Arizona that was probably nice — 40 years ago. Someone was always misplacing a wallet or phone. Someone was always looking for a bottle of water.

There were enough 7 a.m. bus rides to make you feel you were in third grade again. These early-morning taxis were due mainly to early flights. One plane trip a season is about it for mid-majors; Tech had four. Miami. Arizona. New Mexico. Virginia. Flying a college baseball team commercial is like turning around a battleship. In molasses. In wintertime. (Or in Lake Charles in late February.)

Commercial air travel with college baseball is a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey affair, a circus without the elephants and straw. If you come home with almost as many people and almost as much equipment as you left with, it’s considered a very successful trip.

As any team will tell you, the non-baseball parts are common. The baseball parts are different. That’s why lots of teams aren’t playing this weekend, and 64, like Tech, are. They’ve been good at the baseball parts. 

A lot of those 45 wins and the positive reaction to a couple of particularly hard-knocks losses has been because of how this team of Dogs has gotten along, adjusted and adapted during the non-baseball parts. Doubleheaders and time changes and Saturday and Sunday pre-noon games. 

Life asks you to adapt, just as you would to a new arm out of the pen or an error or a bad hop — or a kamikaze bird or late plane or lost luggage. We adjust or we don’t.

It’s a group of teammates who look forward to getting to the ballpark. When they get there again this weekend — and they will, somehow, some way, to baseball-friendly Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville — the baseball parts should be fun to watch. For sure, they’ve earned their way.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

If there’s one debate in bass fishing that has gone on for decades, it’s the age-old question: Does color matter? What we are referring to is the color of the bait you’re throwing when fishing for those elusive largemouth bass. No other topic in the bass fishing world has a difference of opinion more than this topic. Today I’ll give you my perspective that could lean you in either direction.  

If you ask any angler with years of experience, some will say, “Yes, color does matter,” while others will say, “No,” that the color of your bait has no bearing on if a bass will eat it. Occasionally, I will agree with the guys who say “no” because there are occasions where bass are on a feeding frenzy, otherwise known as “schooling,” and will bite just about anything you throw at them. But I’ve also seen instances where if you don’t throw something that is very close to the forage (baitfish) they are chasing, and I mean in both size and color, you will not get bit. This rule of “matching the hatch,” so to speak, pretty much applies 90% of the time.

Here’s my perspective when it comes to color. I say “yes” color does matter, if for no other reason than confidence. I know we’ve talked about confidence in the past and there’s nothing more important to an angler than his confidence, whether it’s in a particular color or a select bait. This is always a part of my message when I speak to high school or college anglers. It’s important for young anglers to gain confidence in a particular color because when the fishing is tough, you want to fish with something you have a lot of confidence in.

When it comes to soft plastic baits, color can make a huge difference on whether you catch bass or not. My argument has always been if color is not important, then why do manufacturers make so many for anglers to choose from?  Some will say that is because companies are trying to catch anglers and sell lures. That might be true, but they also make so many colors because of the many different types of water clarity we have all across the country, and certain colors are designed to match different types of forage bass feed on.

All I know is this, over my many years of chasing those little green fish we call bass, more times than I can count, I made a color change and suddenly, I started catching bass. Was this a coincidence or was the new color I switched to closer to the forage they were feeding on? Only a bass can truly answer this question of whether color really matters, and until bass learn to speak, the world may never know.

Steve Graf

Angler’s Perspective

Please send all non-profit calendar events to bpjnewsla@gmail.com

June 21 (8 a.m.)

Arcadia Historic Railway District Inaugural Golf Tournament

July 11 – 12

Saline Watermelon Festival Pageant – Saline High School Gymnasium

July 13 

Saline Watermelon Festival 

October 12 (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Car Show with Prizes, Raffles, Cake Auction and Food Trucks benefiting CASA

1952 N. Railroad Ave, Arcadia, La. 

The following arrests were made by local law enforcement agencies. 

05/19/24

Rondarius Bell of Shreveport was arrested for domestic abuse battery with child endangerment.

05/20/24

Shamarion Abbott of Homer was arrested for felony failure to appear warrant. 

Winston Doss of Ringgold was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm. 

Jeremy Simmons of Castor was arrested for bond revocation/forfeiture. 

Amy Lykins of Arcadia was arrested for domestic abuse battery and resisting an officer. 

05/21/24

Makieja Vallaire of Arcadia was arrested as a fugitive. 

Allan Garlington, Jr. of Ruston was arrested for armed robbery.

05/22/24

Giovanni Goins of Dallas was arrested for operating a vehicle with a suspended license; no license issued and exceeding the maximum speed limit. 

05/23/24

Jaylen Stafford of Arcadia was arrested for violation of probation/parole.

05/24/24

Bruce Smith of Mt. Vernon, Al. was arrested for no driver’s license and exceeding the maximum speed limit. 

05/25/24

Terrance Thompson of Arcadia was arrested for two counts of failure to appear. 

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Notice of Death – May 28, 2024

Finnis Lyman Zappa

Nov. 27, 1937 – May 22, 2024

Homer, La.

Visitation: 5 – 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 28, 2024, Rose Neath Funeral Home, Homer, La. 

Funeral service: 10 – 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 29, 2024, First Presbyterian Church, Athens, La. 

Interment: Salem Memorial Cemetery, Athens, La. 

Mary Winzer Kimble

Nov. 01, 1935 – May 24, 2024

Homer, La. 

Visitation: 1 – 6 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2024, Memorial Funeral Home, Homer, La. 

Funeral service: 2:30 p.m., Saturday, June 01, 2024, Point Pleasant CME Church, Homer, La. 

Interment: Point Pleasant Cemetery, Homer, La. 

Bienville Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or bpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are no charge.)

By Michelle Bates

The Town of Arcadia’s water system has been upgraded from a “C” letter grade to a “B,” according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

Mayor O’Landis Millican announced the upgrade in Tuesday’s council meeting, saying the 89 percentile is due to a few minor detractions.

“We are excited to see our water grade increase,” Millican said. “We are working hard to get to an ‘A.’ We do believe with the increase in rates, it allows us the financial stability, since we were docked five points because of financial weakness. We believe that although it’s difficult to get an ‘A,’ we are striving to improve to get to it.”

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, the “B” letter grade is partly due to the fact that when then the testing was done, the new increase in water rates hadn’t gone into effect. The increase will be reflected on customers’ June bills.

Other factors included:

• Six points were deducted for “state violations, which include no water operator, inadequate water disinfection and boil notices and water outages, may lead to other issues of concern if not resolved.”
• Five points were deducted “for lack of financial stability which can affect operations and management of the water system. An effective water rate can provide for the repair maintenance and future replacement of infrastructure.” A total of 11 points were deducted.

Act 98 of the 2021 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature authorized the Louisiana Department of Health Safe Drinking Water Program to develop a grade for community water system accountability. This would provide for the issuance of a  letter grade reflective  of community water system quality and performance. LDH determines letter grades based on 7 Standards evaluating the infrastructure,
accountability, and over all health risk of drinking water to consumers.

The seven standards include:

• Federal Water Quality
• State Water Quality
• Financial Sustainability
• Operation and Maintenance
• Infrastructure
• Customer Satisfaction
• Secondary Contaminants (Iron and Manganese)

The other water systems in Bienville Parish received the following grades:

• Alabama Water System received 99 of 100 points, giving them an “A.”
• Alberta Water System received 58 of 100 points, giving them an “F.”
• Bienville Water System received 84 of 100 points, giving them a “B.”
• Bryceland Water System received 68 of 100 points, giving them a “D.”
• Castor Water System received 97 of 100 points, giving them an “A.”
• Friendship Water System received 70 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
• Gibsland Water System received 43 of 100 points, giving them an “F.”
• Lucky Waterworks received 60 of 100 points, giving them a “D.”
• Edwards Millcreek Water System received 70 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
• Mt. Lebanon Water System received 89 of 100 points, giving them a “B.”
• Mt. Olive Water System received 75 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
• Ringgold Water System received 55 of 100 points, giving them an “F.”
• Saline Water System received 49 of 100 points, giving them an “F.”
• Taylor Water System received 95 of 100 points, giving them an “A.”
• Shiloh Waterworks District received 78 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
• Southeast Bienville Water System received 76 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
• Mount Calm Water System received 79 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
• Cypress Water System received 75 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
• Old Saline Community Water System received 90 of 100 points, giving them an “A.”
• Millcreek Water System received 85 of 100 points, giving them a “B.”
• Jamestown Fryeburg Water System received 100 of 100 points, giving them an “A.”
• Springhill Community Water System received 89 of 100 points, giving them a “B.”

An in depth look at all water system grades for Bienville Parish can be found at http://www.ldh.la.gov.

Della “Elizabeth” Ann Cole Barnes, age 86, of Arcadia, Louisiana entered into eternal rest on May 20, 2024. She was born on August 17, 1937, in Mississippi to Johnny and Nellie Walker Cole. 

Viewing will be at 10:00 a.m. and the memorial service honoring the life of Elizabeth will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2024, both located at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1680 1st St. Arcadia, LA, 71001. A graveside service will follow the memorial service on Saturday, May 25, 2024, located at Pleasant Hill Baptist Cemetery, 1127 Mondy Rd, Ruston, LA 71270. Officiating the services will be Reverend Peter Barnes. 

Elizabeth graduated from Lee High School and went to college at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. She was a woman who loved & served God with ALL of her heart, soul and mind! She was a fervent prayer warrior, setting a Godly example for all who knew her. She was a talented musician – singer, pianist and organist – who faithfully served in full-time church ministry with her husband Phil. Together, they served congregations in Ohio, Colorado, Alabama, South Carolina as well as Dunn, Bastrop, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Her loving and consistent, though quiet ministry has truly had an eternal impact on the Kingdom of God.

Affectionately known by many as “Libby” or “Lib”, she was the sweetest person you would ever meet & always had a smile for everyone. She loved to cook delicious desserts and would make you a sour cream pound cake in a heartbeat! 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny and Nellie Cole. Left to cherish her memory include her husband, Phillip Barnes of 59 beautiful years. She is also survived by her daughters, Kristie Sistrunk and husband, Dewayne; daughter, Jennifer Watson; grandsons, Brandon Sistrunk and his wife, Ashley; Andrew Sistrunk and his wife Laura; granddaughter, Mckenna Watson; great grandchildren, Riley, Landon, Macie, Nora, Kayden, Kamren, Kolby and Kingston. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to help cover funeral arrangements and celebration of life. Please contact Kristie or Jennifer if you would like to donate, 318-780-5028.