Month: October 2025

State Fire Marshal investigates fatal House Fire in Gibsland

/ Corey Poole / Leave a comment

State Fire Marshal (SFM) deputies are investigating a house fire that tragically claimed the life of a 64-year-old Gibsland man. The North Bienville Fire District responded to the fire shortly after 5 p.m. on Oct. 30. The incident occurred in the 200 block of Jenkins Road in Gibsland.

At this time, SFM deputies are uncertain whether the residence was equipped with a working smoke alarm. The investigation remains ongoing as deputies work to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

Louisiana residents are encouraged to take a simple but life-saving step, make sure every home has a working smoke alarm. “Having a smoke alarm can make all the difference in an emergency,” said DPS Principal Assistant, Chief Bryan J. Adams. “If you don’t have one or aren’t sure how to install it, our Operation Save-A-Life program is here to help. We’ll provide and install smoke alarms at no cost to residents.”

For more information, visit lasfm.org or contact your local fire department to request a free smoke alarm and installation.

Arrest Report

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The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers.

10/19/25

Steven Brown of Arcadia was arrested for Driver Must Be Licensed.

Sheletha Stephens of Castor was arrested for Operating Vehicle with Suspended License; No License Issued.

10/23/25

Curtis Richardson of Arcadia was arrested for Simple Criminal Damage to Property (Misdemeanor); Simple Burglary – Immovable Structure (Felony); Violation of Probation/Parole; and Taking Contraband to/from Penal Institutions Prohibited (Felony). 

10/24/25

Danny Weaver of Castor was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Serious Bodily Injury (Felony); Flight from an Officer (Misdemeanor); Attempted Second Degree Murder (Felony); and Home Invasion (Damage to Property; Felony). 

Dennie McEachern of Arcadia was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Strangulation (Felony). 

10/25/25

Michael Vise of Jamestown was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery (Misdemeanor).

Luke Heinlen of Isle of Palms, SC, was arrested for Headlamps for Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles; Careless Operation; Aggravated Flight from an Officer (Felony); and Maximum Speed Limit (Interstate or Controlled Access Highway). 

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.

Louisiana residents hopeful to receive SNAP benefits in November

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Despite the federal government’s refusal to use emergency funds to send out federal food aid, Louisiana residents remain hopeful that they will receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, better known as food stamps, in the first few days of November.

The optimism comes from Governor Jeff Landry asking the state legislature to authorize $150 million of state money to subsidize Louisiana SNAP benefits for November, after declaring a state of emergency to fund the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

However, Landry specifically asked that distribution be from November 1 through November 4, and limited the funds to go to children, the elderly, and disabled people, which make up a majority — but not all — of Louisiana SNAP recipients.

The state legislature, which is in an unrelated special session, unanimously passed the measure (97-0) on Friday, October 24th, and now the issue is with the Senate, which is expected to take up the matter on Wednesday, October 29th. Confident that the resolution will pass, Governor Landry has scheduled a new conference for Wednesday at 2:00 pm to address the situation. 

The decision carries great weight among Louisiana residents as it is estimated that nearly 800,000 people in Louisiana receive SNAP benefits. Of those roughly 565,000 are either children, the elderly, or disabled. 

Understanding use value classification from the Assessor’s Office

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When it comes to agriculture or timberland assessments in Bienville Parish, Use Value is a beneficial classification for qualifying property owners. This special assessment allows eligible land to be taxed based on its productivity rather than its full market value, often resulting in a lower tax burden.

One key factor in determining Use Value is the soil classification of the land. These classifications are not arbitrarily assigned. They are based on detailed studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service). These studies analyze the specific soil types found in each location and determine how suitable the soil is for various agricultural uses.

Thanks to these efforts, the Louisiana Tax Commission is able to access this information quickly and accurately. Each parcel is evaluated based on its unique soil composition, and the appropriate Use Value rate is applied according to that classification.

This system ensures consistency and fairness across the state, allowing landowners to benefit from a rate that reflects the true productive capacity of their land.

If anyone has questions about whether their property qualifies for Use Value or want to know more about how soil classification was determined, feel free to reach out to the Assessor’s Office. They are here to help guide people through the process.

Two more fests remain in Bienville Fire District #7’s annual fall fest at different stations

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Bienville Parish Fire Protection District #7 will host their annual fall fest over three days at three locations starting next week. The first fest was held on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6pm at the Shady Grove Station. The next fest will be Thursday, Oct. 30, at 6pm at the Lucky Village Hall. The third and final fest will be held on Friday, Oct. 31, at 6pm at the Saline Fire Station. Everyone is welcome to come.

Black Tuesday — The Day Wall Street Became a Haunted House

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October 29, 1929—Black Tuesday—marked the collapse of the U.S. stock market and the beginning of the Great Depression. In a single day, billions of dollars evaporated, and a wave of panic swept the nation. But beyond the financial fallout, the event carried an eerie weight, as if Wall Street itself had been cursed.

In the days leading up to the crash, brokers and bankers worked in a frenzy, trying to keep the market afloat. When prices finally plummeted, chaos erupted. Eyewitnesses described men fainting, tearing up ledgers, and screaming in despair. Some investors, ruined in minutes, walked out of buildings and never returned home.

Newspapers at the time fueled the legend of desperate brokers leaping from skyscraper windows. While the number of suicides that day was exaggerated, there were enough tragedies in the weeks that followed to cement the image of Wall Street as a haunted district.

The “ghosts of Black Tuesday” lingered long after the crash. Families who lost everything often told stories of hearing phantom voices in their former offices or seeing apparitions of men in suits wandering near the Stock Exchange. Whether real hauntings or the product of grief, these tales captured the sense of loss that haunted a generation.

The Great Depression reshaped America. Breadlines, dust storms, and shuttered banks became the grim reality of the 1930s. Even today, economists and historians study October 29 as a turning point when prosperity gave way to hardship.

In New York, legends persist that certain offices on Wall Street are cursed. Night guards whisper of cold drafts, shadowy figures, and footsteps echoing through empty hallways long after business hours. For some, Black Tuesday isn’t just history—it’s a haunting.

Nearly a century later, October 29 remains a reminder of how quickly fortune can vanish, leaving behind only ghosts of ambition and despair.

Congratulations to the Bienville Parish Teachers of the Year 2025-2026

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On behalf of the entire parish, Bienville Parish School Board extends its most sincere congratulations to the outstanding educators recognized as the Bienville Parish Teachers of the Year for the 2025-2026 academic year.
 
Their dedication, commitment, and hard work are truly inspiring and make a profound difference in the lives of students every day.
 
BPSB is proud to honor the following teachers across their respective divisions:
 
Elementary Division
 
● CES: Victoria Palmo
● CHS: Macey Gill
● GCHS: Candi Fields
● RES: ShKea Sibley
● SHS: Hannah Robinson
 
Junior High Division
 
● AHS: Ralyn Sampson Mills
● CHS: Rachel Mathews
● GCHS: Margo Malone
● RHS: Kimberly Moore
● SHS: Kaycee Morris
 
High School Division
 
● AHS: Brittney Royal
● CHS: Melissa Waters
● GCHS: Scherwanda Cooper
● RHS: Zachery Reliford
● SHS: Olivia Green
 
BPSB thanks all of these teachers for their exceptional contributions to education in Bienville Parish. 

Ponderings: Just Wave

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I-20 construction has become an exercise in enduring a spiritual test. Those of headed west from Ruston or east to Ruston must face the challenge of merging into one lane around the construction. It is maddening. It is also instructive.

Let us begin with a confession: merging onto the interstate in Louisiana is not for the faint of heart. It is a spiritual exercise in chaos theory, a test of faith, and occasionally, a near-death experience. One might say it resembles the early church—passionate, unpredictable, and occasionally in need of divine intervention.

Contrast this with the Northwest, where merging is a liturgy. Drivers there glide like synchronized swimmers in a baptismal pool of asphalt. They signal. They yield. They make space. It’s as if they’ve read Romans 12:10—“Outdo one another in showing honor”—and applied it to traffic patterns.

But what if merging isn’t just about traffic? What if it’s a metaphor for fellowship?

In the church, we speak often of “fellowship,” that sacred mingling of souls in potluck lines and small group gatherings. But true fellowship—like merging—isn’t just proximity. It’s intentional movement toward one another. It’s the art of adjusting speed, checking blind spots, and sometimes braking for someone who’s still figuring out their spiritual GPS.

Consider the Apostle Paul. He was a master merger. One moment he’s persecuting Christians, the next he’s writing half the New Testament and hosting small groups in Philippi. He didn’t just join the faith; he merged into it—yielding to grace, accelerating toward purpose, and signaling his transformation with every epistle.

In merging, as in fellowship, timing is everything. Too fast, and you risk colliding. Too slow, and you cause confusion. The church, too, must learn this rhythm. We must make space for the hesitant, the wounded, the ones still figuring out which lane they belong in. We must resist the urge to honk our theological horns or tailgate someone into conformity.

And let us not forget the sacred blinker. In traffic, it’s a sign of intention. In fellowship, it’s vulnerability. It says, “I’m trying to join you. I’m not perfect, but I’m coming alongside.” The church thrives when we honor the blinker—when we respond not with suspicion, but with grace.

Of course, there are spiritual roadblocks. Pride. Judgment. The occasional congregant who drives a theological monster truck and refuses to yield. But even these can be navigated with patience and prayer. After all, Jesus merged with humanity itself—God taking on flesh, signaling love, and entering our lane with humility.

So next time you’re on the interstate, and a fellow Louisianan or visiting Texan barrels down the ramp like they’re auditioning for a Fast & Furious sequel, take a breath. Remember that merging is messy. Fellowship is, too. But both are holy.

Because in the end, the church is not a convoy of perfect drivers. It’s a caravan of grace—bumper to bumper, blinker to blinker, learning to merge our lives into one body, one Spirit, one glorious journey toward the Kingdom.

And if all else fails, just wave. It’s the universal sign of fellowship. Even in traffic.

BPSB announces 2025–2026 Students of the Year

/ Megan Lowe / Leave a comment
Bienville Parish School Board has announced its 2025–2026 Students of the Year.
 
The 5th grade honorees are: 

● Crawford Elementary School – MyKayla McCartney
● Saline High School – Jaylee Hough
● Gibsland-Coleman – Jayceion Carter
● Ringgold Elementary – Kerrick Allums
● Castor High School – Abram Thrower
 
The 8th grade honorees are:

● Gibsland-Coleman – Ajai Haulcy
● Saline High School – Ashlyn Lamkin
● Ringgold High School – Jayla Joyner
● Castor High School – Greta Edwards
● Arcadia High School – Tylan Haulcy

Finally, the 12th grade honorees are: 
 
● Saline High School – Ella Dison
● Gibsland-Coleman – Jordan Allen
● Arcadia High School – Shakiyah Wyatt
● Castor High School – Avery Jordan
● Ringgold High School – Delton Fowler
 
These students deserve many congratulations for their dedication and achievements. They represent the best of Bienville Parish and inspire everyone to pursue excellence every day.

After Three Weeks of Partial Shutdown, Do We Need All This Gov’t?

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My late father, Albert George ‘Ladd’ Alexander, Jr. a Louisiana Republican political leader and political friend of President Reagan, would frequently say, only half-jokingly, ‘Each night I get on my knees and thank God Almighty that I don’t get all the government that I pay for.”

He would definitely understand the political moment in which we currently find ourselves, as the partial government shutdown reveals that hard working American taxpayers are paying for hundreds of billions in salaries for ‘non-essential’ federal government employees.

In short, we are over three weeks into this so-called government shutdown and very little has changed in the lives of most Americans.  This begs the question: do we really need the enormous federal government that we have and pay trillions of hard-earned dollars for?

A number of writers and commentators have pointed out that the shutdown has a very positive aspect to it.  As David Huff writes in the Wall Street Journal, “every government shutdown is an efficiency audit in disguise.  During a shutdown, agencies must identify and keep essential employees on the job, forcing a triage that reveals the government’s assessment of what it needs to function.” (D. Huff, WSJ, October 16, 2025).   

That’s why a shutdown is far leaner and more targeted than attempting to pass laws to trim or eliminate parts of government, which never happens! The federal government never voluntarily reduces its size.  That is why President Reagan’s famous line still resonates so powerfully today: a government program “is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.”

So, this forced government shutdown is actually beneficial because during that period, Mr. Huff continues, “agencies must submit ‘contingency plans’ categorizing which employees are essential  … and only five narrow exceptions qualify: those employees protecting life and property, those necessary to the president’s constitutional duties, those performing legally mandated activities, those with funding outside the annual budget, and those authorized by other laws.”  In this sense, every employee is “fired” and the only employees who are brought back are those performing core functions.  What a novel idea!  Huff concludes by stating that based upon this approach he believes “roughly 25% of the federal workforce could be permanently cut.”

By the way, what is the main hangup in restarting the federal government? 

As The Heritage Foundation explains “to vote for a continuing resolution (CR), the Senate Democrats are demanding in part that Congress resume Medicaid, Medicare, and Affordable Care Act premium subsidy policies that open the door for illegal aliens to receive government benefits. These loopholes were terminated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that was signed into law this July.  The OBBBA limited eligibility for health benefits to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, … thereby stopping eligibility for illegal aliens and other aliens here on a temporary basis. The Senate Democrats’ CR bill would repeal these changes made by the OBBBA.”  (The Heritage Foundation, October 1, 2025). 

So, our government is shut down primarily because Democrats in the U.S. Senate want to provide, at a huge cost to American taxpayers, health care to illegal aliens. 

Fox News stated that “most recently, Democrats blocked a Republican-led attempt to provide essential government workers with paychecks amid an ongoing, 23-day shutdown, calling the bill overly selective and incomplete.”  (Fox News, L. Briceno and E. Elkind, October 23, 2025).  That bill, proposed by Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Todd Young, R-Ind., failed in a 54-45 vote, where 60 votes were needed to advance the bill over the threat of a filibuster.

Columnist Kimberly Strassel writes that “shutdowns are a byproduct of Washington dysfunction. But Democrats’ intransigence in this one—their indifference to convention or consequence in their drive to impose their demands on a country they lost in the last election—is unfortunate evidence that dysfunction can always get worse.” (K. Strassel, Wall Street Journal, Oct. 23, 2025).

Obviously, at some point our federal government will need to fund its priorities.   I think the resolution offered by Republicans would be more than adequate to that task because it would fund the government while negotiations occur on the issue of health care subsidies and many other things.  We will see how that works out.  However, an unintended result of this and other previous shutdowns is that the American people see that we have much more government than we need and for this reason, among others, this disruption has value.

DAR Day of Service held on Oct. 14

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Members of Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution met at the Dorcheat Museum on Oct. 14 for the annual DAR Day of Service. For this year’s project, the DAR are providing gift bags to veterans. Jessica Gorman, museum director and our Service to America Chairman, provided supplies and led the project. The chapter packed 15 gift bags with t-shirts, snacks, small gift items, and veterans’ lapel pins. Each bag also contained a “Thank You for Your Service” card signed by all of the attending members. The bags will be distributed for Veterans Day.

Samantha Lewis, the Community Classroom Chapter Chairman, was awarded North Webster Junior High Teacher of the Year. She was chosen for her outstanding service to her school and her community. DAR are excited for Samantha, and they offered her congratulations.

The chapter participated in several community events. They donated hygiene supplies to the Webster Parish Veterans and Community Mental Health Resource Fair on Sept. 10. Pam Mattox, the Service to Veterans Chairman, represented the chapter at this event. Jerry Madden and the Past Chapter Regent Cindy Madden demonstrated proper flag care at the Central Elementary School Flag Brigade. Chapter Regent Donna Sutton, Cindy Madden, and Spencer Creech (Children of the American Revolution State Veterans Chair) participated in a Sons of the American Revolution wreath ceremony in Bossier City. The three organizations placed wreaths at the Bicentennial Memorial at the Bossier Civic Center.

Cindy Madden and her husband Jerry (SAR State Assistant Secretary) attended the Commemoration of the Battle of Baton Rouge on Sept. 28.  The wreath ceremony was held at the Galvez Plaza Stage where they laid wreaths for Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter DAR, Fort Jesup Society CAR, Galvez Chapter SAR, and the SAR Ladies Auxiliary.  Jerry participated in the SAR Color Guard, which dresses in Revolutionary War uniforms. The Color Guard presented the flags of all of the countries who were a part of Galvez’ army at the Battle of Baton Rouge as well as the American Flag.  

DAR is a volunteer organization dedicated to education, patriotism, and historic preservation. Any woman age 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) is eligible to join DAR. For more information, contact DAR at dorcheatbistineau@yahoo.com.

Gibsland juniors, seniors attend College & Career Exploration Day at SUSLA

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Gibsland-Coleman High School’s 11th and 12th grade students had an incredible opportunity to visit Southern University at Shreveport’s (SUSLA) Aviation Maintenance Technology Program recently.
 
Students toured the aviation facilities, learned about aircraft maintenance, and explored exciting career pathways in the aviation industry. This hands-on experience gave these future graduates a closer look at the skills and education needed to soar to new heights in aviation and technology.
 
The school offered a special “thank you” to Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) for welcoming the students and inspiring them to dream big.

Bienville Parish 4-H Sweet Potato & Pecan Sale in here

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It’s time again for the Bienville Parish 4-H Sweet Potato and Pecan Sale. This fundraiser will help support the Bienville Parish 4-H Junior Leadership Club to conduct service learning projects and participate in leadership opportunities. Orders must be received by November 1.

The sweet potatoes are Louisiana-grown and are perfect for baking and casseroles. A 40-pound box is $30. A 20-pound bag $15. A 10-pound bag is $10.

Louisiana pecans are available in $14 1-pound bags of pecan halves. Choose from the following flavors: sugared, roasted, chocolate-coated, hot and spicy roasted, and praline crunch topping. Plain halves or pieces are $12 a bag.

Make checks payable to Bienville Parish 4-H. Call the office today to place your order: 318-263-7400. 

Potatoes and pecans can be picked up Nov. 19–21, 9am – 4pm, at the LSU AgCenter Office (2710 Maple Street Arcadia).

LDWF accepting applications for Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman (B-BOW) Deer Hunt

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LDWF has announced that applications are now open for the Becoming an Outdoors Women (BOW) Deer Hunt, scheduled for Jan. 9-11, 2026, at Floy McElroy Wildlife Management Area.

This hunt is designed for novice deer hunters who have previously attended a Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshop and are ready for hands-on learning experience in a safe, supportive environment.

The deadline for the lottery application is Nov. 30, with a drawing date of Dec. 1. Successful applicants will be notified by email. Apply here: https://buff.ly/w4fjTiM

Eligibility requirements are as follows.

  • Must have attended a previous BOW workshop
  • Must be a novice deer hunter (harvested no more than two deer or other big game animals)
  • Must not have previously attended a Louisiana B-BOW deer hunt or harvested a deer during that event
  • Must be Hunter Education certified

The Beyond BOW program helps women build on skills learned during BOW weekends – offering hands-on experiences while providing guidance from supportive instructors in real-world outdoor settings. For questions, email BOW@wlf.la.gov. Learn more: https://buff.ly/CEkF6jA.

BPSB reiterates commitment to student safety

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The safety, security, and overall well-being of every student in the Bienville Parish School System remains the Bienville Parish School Board’s highest priority. BPSB is fully committed to maintaining a safe, supportive, and drug-free learning environment for all students and staff members.
 
As part of BPSB’s comprehensive safety and prevention efforts, the board will consistently implement procedures outlined in the Crisis Management Plan. This includes regularly scheduled safety drills—such as fire, tornado, lockdown, and bomb threat exercises—to ensure students and staff are prepared in the event of an emergency.
 
In partnership with local law enforcement, the board will also conduct periodic, unannounced K-9 searches on campuses as a proactive step in supporting a drug-free school environment.
 
To further enhance security across all campuses, the board has taken several strategic measures to strengthen school perimeters, including:

• Controlled, one-way access points at all main entrances
• Perimeter fencing around school grounds
• Bullet-resistant safety film on entryway glass
• Clear signage designating all campuses as drug- and weapon-free zones
• Open gate weapons detection systems at key access points

Additionally, all athletic events are governed by detailed Emergency Action Plans and adhere to the district’s Clear Bag Policy. All athletic staff are certified in the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), First Aid, and CPR to ensure prompt and effective response in the event of a medical emergency.
 
BPSB encourages everyone to use this opportunity to speak with children about the importance of making safe, respectful, and responsible decisions. Remind them of the importance of reporting concerns— “If you see something, say something.” Maintaining open lines of communication between home and school is essential to the safety and success of every student.
 
Should anyone have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact the Bienville Parish School Board at 318-263-9416.

Is professional bass fishing a real job? 

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(Part II)

Today we’ll continue our thoughts on the state of professional bass fishing and where it’s headed. Like the old saying goes, “Nothing lasts forever,” and I worry that the sponsorship or business side of fishing is getting tougher and more complicated as companies are now looking hard at how they spend their advertising dollars. 

Today’s anglers are fighting among themselves for a much smaller piece of the pie while the amount of sponsorship dollars has dwindled. It’s becoming more difficult for anglers to land sponsors who have now decided to tighten their belts with regards to advertisement. 

It’s Business 101, all about ROI (return on investment) as sponsors are no longer passing out money like candy. Companies have gotten more conservative on how much money they are willing to pay an angler to represent them. They’re also no longer hiring as many anglers to be a part of their marketing teams as they have in the past.  

Company marketing plans have changed and this all started when the old FLW Tour went under in 2019, followed in 2021 when FLW was absorbed by MLF (Major League Fishing). This has changed the landscape of professional bass fishing as anglers try to make a living.

Recently with a smaller market of sponsors for anglers to choose from, along with a tight economy, professional anglers are having to look at other ways to raise money in order to support their families, pay for entry fees and travel expenses. It has slowly become the land of the haves and the have nots. 

By that I mean, if you have money or come from money, you stand a better chance of making it as a professional angler than someone who is strapped for dollars, sleeping in their truck, and fishing for pay checks. 

The older generation of anglers who have helped make the sport what it is today are now being phased out by a younger generation that requires less money to sponsor. 

Let me explain. For years companies would hire professional anglers to do commercials and promote different products they offer. But as social media began to take hold, companies started turning to the younger generation due to their social media skills and their ability to navigate the web.

The difference between the older generation of anglers and the younger ones is that companies were having to pay a substantial amount of money to the older guys. The younger anglers, who are very social media savvy, are less demanding and will do promotions for pennies on the dollar or maybe a product exchange. 

This has changed the landscape for how professional anglers can make a living. Companies today want anglers who understand the dynamics of social media, can sell a product, and have good communication skills. Just winning tournaments is not enough any longer.

So where is all of this headed? Is the future dream of being a professional bass fisherman still a reality? Major League Fishing has recently cut the number of anglers in its circuit down from 65 to 51, eliminating 15 anglers! 

This of course helps with distribution of the so-called pie as there are now less anglers trying to lock down sponsors. I personally believe that anglers are going to have to reach out to sponsors that are not related to the fishing world like the FLW Tour did back in the early 2000s. 

FLW did an excellent job of bringing in companies like Tide, Snickers, Land of Lakes, Castrol Oil, Kellogg’s and Walmart. They basically followed the same marketing plan as NASCAR by reaching out to non-endemic sponsors. 

Being a professional bass angler is a great way to make a living and a dream for so many! Currently, there are a lot of questions as to what direction professional bass fishing is headed. 

But there’s one thing that has remained constant in this profession. Young anglers today face the same challenges that the older generation faced — how to make money and provide for their families! 

Mt. Lebanon Fall Festival this Saturday

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The Mt. Lebanon Historical Society invites the public to join them on Saturday, Nov. 1, for the Old Mt. Lebanon Days Festival at the Stagecoach Trail Museum, three miles south of Gibsland.

Activities are from 11am at 3pm and include a silent auction, a cakewalk with DJ John Cole, and a cake auction with homemade cakes. The lunch menu will be gourmet hot dogs, chips, desserts, and a drink (tea, soft drink, or water).

This year’s raffle item is a Black Rain Ordinance AR-15 with a 16” barrel. Raffle tickets are $5 each, and the drawing will be at 3pm. The winner does not need to be present to win. Tickets can be purchased from Gibsland Grill, calling 318-843-6175, texting 318-243-2343, or purchase on site the day of the festival.

Make plans to attend this day of fun that is also an important fundraiser for the museum.

Remember This? The Absurdity of War

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When Melvin James Kiminsky was entering his senior year in high school in 1944, he took the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program test, an assessment to determine intelligence and comprehension.  Melvin did so well on the aptitude test that Army recruiters sent him to Virginia Military Institute to study electrical engineering.  Melvin, who had spent his whole life in New York City, was surrounded by “mountain ranges, red clay, a lot of horses, and statues of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.”  At VMI, he was taught to ride a horse, wield a saber, do close-order drill, and electrical engineering.  Then, he was transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to work on a field artillery team whose main weapon was a 105mm cannon.  The Army failed to provide hearing protection, so Melvin began tearing the filters off of Camel cigarettes and sticking those in his ears.  He quipped, “my ears are still yellow to this day.”         

In January 1945, Melvin was among hundreds of soldiers who were sent to Europe.  He ended up on the front line between Sarreguemines, France, and Saarbrucken, Germany.  Because he was classified as an engineer—his superiors overlooked the fact that he was an electrical engineer and not a combat engineer—they gave him a bayonet and told him to probe for mines.  Melvin thought the order was absurd, but he was instructed to insert his bayonet into the ground at a shallow angle to avoid pressing the detonator which was normally triggered by pressure from directly above.  After a while, Melvin joined a team with the 1104thcombat engineers who had to erect a Bailey bridge, a portable truss bridge, over a river which led into enemy territory defended by Nazis.  The Bailey bridge was so light that they could swing it out over the river, but strong enough to support the weight of a crossing tank.  Melvin was one of the first men who had to cross the bridge because he had to secure it to the other side.  The ever-watchful Germans, angry that an American soldier would soon be coming onto their side of the river, shouted warnings in German over a loudspeaker.  Melvin grabbed a bullhorn and responded to the German soldiers but not by yelling threats.  He sang a full rendition of the popular upbeat Broadway showtune “Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo’ Bye!)”  

When he finished singing, he lowered the bullhorn.  The men in his company stared at him in complete and confused silence.  For a few moments, the German soldiers were also silent.  Then, a few of the enemy soldiers began clapping and cheering.  Neither the American soldiers nor the German soldiers understood the absurdity that had just occurred.  Melvin understood the absurdity of the war and satirized it directly to soldiers on both sides of the conflict.  For the past 80 years, Melvin Kiminsky has been entertaining the world in much the same way, with his own brand of absurd comedy.  He is one of only 27 entertainers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony award for his work on films such as “The Producers,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Spaceballs,” and “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.”  At 99 years old, he is currently producing and acting in “Spaceballs 2.”  Kaminsky may not be a name you recognize.  You see, early in his career, to eliminate his being confused with noted trumpet player Max Kaminsky, Melvin James Kaminsky began performing under the stage name Mel Brooks.               

Source: “Mel Brooks on Fighting the Germans in World War II—Rare Interview!” TheTVTimeMachine, YouTube, March 3, 2024, https://youtu.be/xmJq2vvuPL4?si=e0Q3g1Zj8dwtBzyw.

 
 

How Northwestern State University Is Preparing the Next Generation of Nurses and Allied Health Professionals

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Walk through any hospital in Louisiana and there’s a good chance you’ll meet a nurse, technologist, or healthcare leader who began their journey at Northwestern State University. From Natchitoches to Shreveport, Alexandria, and Leesville, NSU has become one of the state’s most respected names in healthcare education.

Healthcare is changing quickly, and so are the demands on those who deliver it. Hospitals need more trained professionals. Patients need more access to care. Families need people who can lead with skill and compassion. For many in Louisiana, that career path begins at NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health.

“Our students come from every corner of Louisiana and every stage of life,” said Dr. Aimee Badeaux, Dean of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health. “Some are high school graduates looking for their first step. Others are licensed professionals seeking to grow in their careers. What unites them is a commitment to helping others, and that’s something we know how to develop.”

NSU offers one of the most comprehensive selections of healthcare programs in the region. Students can choose from associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across nursing, radiologic sciences, and allied health.

Among the most popular options:

  • Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and LPN to ASN
  • Military Medic/Paramedic to ASN — the only program of its kind in Louisiana, offered in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Alexandria, and Leesville
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), RN to BSN, LPN to BSN, and Accelerated BSN (BS to BSN)
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with concentrations in Administration, Education, and multiple Nurse Practitioner tracks
  • Doctoral-level Nurse Anesthesia, Executive Leadership, and Educational Leadership programs
  • Bachelor and Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences — including the first Sonography program in North Louisiana
  • Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health, with concentrations in Health Science & Technology and Health Sciences Leadership & Management

For working registered nurses, the RN to BSN program remains a top choice. The online format offers flexibility and affordability while maintaining a strong academic foundation.

“Many of our RN-BSN students are balancing full-time jobs and family commitments,” explained Dr. Greg Handel, Executive Vice President and Provost. “We built the program to meet them where they are. It’s affordable, accredited, and recognized nationally for quality.”

Students in NSU’s healthcare programs train in high-fidelity simulation laboratories that recreate real-world clinical settings. From emergency response to pediatric care, these labs allow students to practice critical skills in a safe environment before moving into hospitals and clinics.

Those partnerships with regional healthcare providers are another reason NSU graduates are in such high demand. Students complete clinical rotations with major hospitals, community clinics, and long-term care facilities throughout Louisiana, gaining the experience and confidence that employers look for.

“The hands-on training our students receive makes a real difference,” said Dr. Badeaux. “They graduate with practical skills and a sense of responsibility to their patients and communities.”

That preparation shows in the outcomes. NSU boasts NCLEX pass rates of 98% for ASN graduates and 96% for BSN graduates, consistently exceeding state and national averages.

The university has also earned top national recognition, including:

  • #1 in Louisiana among Top Public Schools – U.S. News & World Report, 2026
  • #1 Best Online Nursing Program – The Princeton Review, 2024
  • #1 Best Nurse Practitioner and MSN Programs – NursePractitionerOnline.com and RegisteredNursing.org, 2025

In the past five years alone, Northwestern State has produced more registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and radiologic technologists than any other institution in the state.

Behind every successful graduate is a team of faculty who are both experienced clinicians and committed educators. With an average class size of 17, students receive the kind of personal attention that larger universities often can’t provide.

“Students succeed here because they’re known here,” said James T. Genovese, President of Northwestern State University. “We take pride in offering an environment where each student’s goals are understood, supported, and celebrated.”

As Louisiana’s population grows and healthcare needs become more complex, NSU continues to adapt. The university is expanding key programs to new sites, building stronger partnerships with hospitals, and investing in technology that enhances training and patient simulation.

Dr. Badeaux summarized it simply: “Every day, we’re educating the professionals who will care for our families tomorrow. That’s work we take seriously.”

For students and families exploring healthcare careers, Northwestern State University offers a trusted path — from the first day of class to the first day on the job. To learn more or connect with an advisor, visit www.nsula.edu/nursing.

Paid Content

Notice of Death – October 28, 2025

/ Megan Lowe / Leave a comment
Helen Smiddy
December 8, 1945 – October 24, 2025
Service: Saturday, November 1, 2025, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Arcadia.
 
Bienville Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or billvance.erg@gmail.com. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to billvance.erg@gmail.com.)

SNAP cardholders to receive no benefits starting November 1 due to federal shutdown

/ Corey Poole / Leave a comment

Baton Rouge – Governor Jeff Landry is warning all SNAP welfare cardholders that they will receive no new benefits on their cards starting Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown in Washington, DC. Any remaining benefits from previous months can still be used. Updated information will be available to all Louisiana residents through a new site https://dcshutdown.la.gov.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana receive SNAP welfare benefits. An update from the USDA this summer stated more than 16% of the population in Louisiana receives SNAP benefits.

“The U.S. Senate is failing to open the federal government in Washington, DC. SNAP benefits are paid for by the federal government in Washington, and we simply administer the program here in Louisiana. Without the funds we cannot provide the benefits. The U.S. House under Speaker Mike Johnson has already acted to re-open the government. Our U.S. Senators representing Louisiana have voted over and over again to re-open the government. They are doing their part. Now it is time for those U.S. Senators, under Democrat Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to vote yes and re-open the federal government. Louisianans concerned about the lack of funds for this program, or any impacted federal service, should call on Chuck Schumer to re-open the federal government now,” said Governor Jeff Landry.

The Louisiana Department of Health which oversees the SNAP program in Louisiana will begin notifying recipients this week, based on available information, that November benefits will not be added to their cards until the federal government reopens. In addition, LDH is providing notices (Notice 1, Notice 2) which retailers can post on doorways and in their stores notifying recipients new funds will be unavailable.

“All Louisiana SNAP recipients should be aware that there will be no new benefits added to their cards starting November 1st unless the federal government in Washington, DC reopens,” said Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health Bruce D. Greenstein. “We will do all we can to ensure SNAP recipients are aware of this and that retailers are prepared as well. Updated information will be provided on the state’s new dcshutdown.la.gov website as soon as it is available.”

Arrest Report

/ Megan Lowe / Leave a comment

The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers.

10/12/25

Loudon Veasley of Aubrey, TX, was arrested for Procedure on Approach of an Authorized Emergency Vehicle and Driver Must Be Licensed. 

Lyric Lowe of Portland, OR, was arrested for Maximum Speed Limit (Interstate or Controlled Access Highway). 

Antonius Cleveland of Harker, TX, was arrested for Driver Must Be Licensed and Maximum Speed Limit.

Yaiwan Gatewood II of Irving, TX, was arrested for Maximum Speed Limit (Interstate or Controlled Access Highway). 

10/13/25

Shawn Hubbard of Ringgold was arrested for Violation of Probation/Parole.

10/14/25

Ail Marshall Jr. of Arcadia was arrested for Violation of Probation/Parole; Simple Assault (Misdemeanor); and Domestic Abuse Battery (Misdemeanor).

10/15/25

Cassalis Lard of Arcadia was arrested for Operating a Vehicle with Suspended License; No License Issued. 

Tegan Foster of Jonesboro was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery (Misdemeanor).

10/17/25

Jarvis Blackmon of Jackson, MS, was arrested for Maximum Speed Limit and Operating Vehicle with Suspended License; Other Offenses.

Lakedtrick Simpson of Gibsland was arrested for Violation of Probation/Parole; Cultivation of Marijuana; Possession or Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor); Possession of Methamphetamine Less Than28 Grams; and Operating a Vehicle with Suspended License; No License Issued. 

10/18/25

Christopher Martin of Bienville was arrested for 3 counts of Simple Battery (Misdemeanor); Simple Criminal Damage to Property (Felony); and Resisting an Officer.

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.

Assessor’s Office provides City Millage rates over time

/ Megan Lowe / Leave a comment
Property tax revenue isn’t just collected at the parish level. Each municipality in Bienville Parish also sets and collects its own millage rate to fund local services. This chart shows the 2023 and 2024 city millage rates and revenue generated for Arcadia, Bienville, Castor, Gibsland, Lucky, Ringgold, and Saline.
 
While millage rates may shift slightly year to year, each town’s collections help support infrastructure, municipal operations, and essential services specific to that community.
 
For questions about a city’s millage rate, contact the local governing body, or reach out to the Assessor’s Office for help understanding the assessment.
 
or more information, see the Tax Roll Booklet here: https://tinyurl.com/bienvillebooklet2025

Plane Crash Results in Fatality

/ NPJ / Leave a comment
The yellow line shows the path of the plane that crashed in northern Jackson Parish

A crash of a small plane that went down in northern Jackson Parish, roughly about five miles from the Ruston Regional Airport on Tuesday, October 21st, has claimed the life of a man who was en route to Ruston, LA from Huntsville, TX. 

The name of the pilot who was flying solo has not been released at present, but according to reports, the Cirrus SR22 airplane is registered to LaSalle Management Company in Ruston. The private company operates the Jackson Parish Correctional Center, the Natchitoches Parish Correctional Center  and other prisons in the region.

Flightradar24 shows the plane’s path from Huntsville, Texas, to near the Ruston airport. It made a couple of loops before the path stopped. The Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office was notified about the potential of a crash around 10:30 a.m., with air traffic control in Ruston reporting a plane going off the radar.

According to a statement made by Jackson Parish Sheriff Andy Brown, the crash site was in a heavily wooded area around State Highway 146 and Old Snipe Road southeast of the Ruston airport, with no homes or other structures nearby.

Federal authorities will head up the investigation into the crash.

Bienville Fire District #7 to host annual fall fest at different stations

/ Megan Lowe / Leave a comment

Bienville Parish Fire Protection District #7 will host their annual fall fest over three days at three locations starting next week. The first fest will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6pm at the Shady Grove Station. The next fest will be Thursday, Oct. 30, at 6pm at the Lucky Village Hall. The third and final fest will be held on Friday, Oct. 31, at 6pm at the Saline Fire Station. Everyone is welcome to come.