The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers.
8/11/26
Dantonio Hart of Hodge was arrested for Operating a Vehicle with Suspended License – No License Issued; Failure to Appear Warrant (Misdemeanor); and Maximum Speed Limit.
Olivia Plunkett was arrested for Telephone Communications, Improper Language, Harassment (Misdemeanor).
Marcus White Jr. of Ruston was arrested for Failure to Appear Warrant (Misdemeanor).
8/14/26
Broderick Ramey of Arcadia was arrested for Failure to Appear Warrant (Misdemeanor).
8/15/26
Tremaine Arkansas was arrested for Battery of a Police Officer (Misdemeanor) and Maximum Speed Limit.
Deihlea Anderson of Ruston was arrested for Operating a Vehicle with Suspended License – No License Issued.
Dominic Turner Jr. of Collin, TX, was arrested for Maximum Speed Limit.
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.
The Arcadia Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the male subject in the photo above. The male was driving the pictured vehicle. If anyone has any information, please contact the Arcadia Police Department.
The Arcadia Police Department will host a National Night Out Block Party on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 6-8pm, on North Railroad Ave. Come out and enjoy free food and entertainment while getting to know local first responders and fellow community members.
Texas has a documented long-term water problem and is aggressively planning future supplies. Louisiana has major new industrial and data-center water demands of its own. Because the two states share interconnected river systems, Louisiana should conduct and publicly release a comprehensive study of the cumulative effects before major water commitments are made.
That question matters because Louisiana citizens have watched enormous economic-development projects negotiated under NDAs, public authorities become major players in private industrial development, fights over eminent domain and permanent underground CO₂ injection, massive transmission projects, thousands of acres targeted for solar development, rapidly expanding data centers, and even discussions involving nuclear development and radioactive-waste disposal.
Researchers at the University of Texas reported in May 2026 that Texas data-center growth could eventually account for 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝟵% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟰𝟬 under a high-growth scenario.
Louisiana is facing many of the same questions as enormous data-center and industrial projects move into our state.
The Texas Water Development Board adopted its 2027 State Water Plan on July 23, 2026.
Texas estimates that implementing more than 3,000 recommended water-management projects through 2080 will require nearly $174 billion in capital investment.
Even if Texas builds all of those projects, its plan still projects approximately 𝟭.𝟲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝗻𝗺𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟴𝟬.
Texas also warns that without the recommended strategies, roughly one out of every four Texans in 2080 could have less than half of the municipal water supply needed during a drought of record.
North Texas already takes water from 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿, and additional Texoma conveyance infrastructure is being developed.
Texas planning also identifies additional supplies involving 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 and the proposed 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿 on the Sulphur River; 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗢’ 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, which feeds Big Cypress Bayou toward Caddo Lake; and 𝗧𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗱 on the Sabine River.
These are not all one project. Some are operating, some proposed, and some are long-range strategies.
But Louisiana should not look at each one in isolation and ignore the cumulative question.
The Sulphur River belongs to the larger Red River drainage system.
Lake O’ the Pines controls flows into Big Cypress Bayou toward 𝗖𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲, a Texas-Louisiana water system. The Corps of Engineers has documented that reservoir operations altered the natural downstream flow regime enough that special releases have been used to restore portions of that flow.
Texas planning identifies approximately 𝟳𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 from Lake O’ the Pines as a potential North Texas supply strategy and approximately 𝟭𝟮𝟮,𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 associated with Wright Patman.
𝗧𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗢 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗕𝗘 𝗔 𝗪𝗔𝗞𝗘-𝗨𝗣 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟.
For decades, many Louisiana citizens probably would have laughed if somebody suggested Louisiana might someday discuss selling Toledo Bend water to Texas.
Then it became a real public-policy discussion.
Residents pushed back. Public meetings were held. Controversy followed.
Louisiana law expressly gives the Sabine River Authority power to enter contracts involving the sale, distribution, or consumption of water within or outside Louisiana, subject to required approvals.
Nobody has shown us a document saying Texas is going to reroute the Red River.
We are not claiming one exists.
But Texas already takes water from the Red River system and is planning or studying additional supplies from tributaries connected to that regional drainage.
So what happens when you add all of those withdrawals together?
What happens at Shreveport?
What happens at Alexandria?
What happens during drought?
And what happens underground?
The 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 is hydraulically connected to the river in significant areas. When the river rises, water can move into surrounding alluvial sediments and contribute to groundwater recharge and bank storage.
If major upstream withdrawals materially alter river levels, flow duration, or high-water periods, Louisiana needs to know whether recharge could decline, groundwater levels could fall, hydraulic gradients could change, or poorer-quality groundwater could move differently.
If significant quantities of water are transferred from Toledo Bend or elsewhere in the Sabine system, the concern does not stop at the reservoir shoreline.
The Sabine continues south toward Sabine Lake and the Gulf. Freshwater flow affects salinity, wetlands, fisheries, ecosystems, municipalities, and industry.
Change the amount and timing of freshwater long enough, and downstream systems can change with it.
The Calcasieu is a separate basin, but southwest Louisiana’s water resources do not exist in isolation. If one source becomes less dependable, demand can shift elsewhere.
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀.
𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬.
Louisiana officials may not like citizens asking these questions.
But they created the atmosphere that makes us ask them.
When citizens repeatedly watch public business conducted under NDAs, they stop assuming silence means nothing is happening.
When enormous projects are negotiated before communities understand them, citizens stop accepting:
“Don’t worry about it.”
Louisiana citizens have watched eminent-domain battles, permanent underground CO₂ injection, huge transmission projects, enormous solar developments, data centers beside rural communities, nuclear and radioactive-waste discussions, and actual discussions about sending Toledo Bend water to Texas.
Texas is identifying reservoirs, pipelines, interbasin transfers, drought strategies, and future supplies while planning for population growth, industrial expansion, and data-center demand.
Where is the cumulative analysis combining Lake Texoma, the Red River, Wright Patman, Marvin Nichols, Lake O’ the Pines, Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, the Sabine, the Red River alluvial aquifer, the Chicot, industrial growth, data-center demand, and drought?
Maybe Texas can develop all of these supplies without materially harming Louisiana.
Fine.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁.
Model it.
Put the numbers on the table.
Show us what happens to the Red River at Shreveport and Alexandria, Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, the Sabine, the Red River alluvial aquifer, and the Chicot.
Show us what happens under drought conditions.
And model it while accounting for the unprecedented growth in AI data centers, power generation, and industrial development across both states.
Because Louisiana citizens should have learned one lesson by now:
Region C Water Planning Group — North Texas water-management strategies, including Lake Texoma, Lake O’ the Pines, Wright Patman, Marvin Nichols, Toledo Bend, Red River off-channel storage, and other potential supplies:
North Texas Municipal Water District — Texoma Two-Step program; additional pipelines designed to add approximately 90 million gallons per day of Lake Texoma conveyance capacity:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Big Cypress Bayou / Caddo Lake Sustainable Rivers Program; documents the downstream connection between Lake O’ the Pines, Big Cypress Bayou, and Caddo Lake:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Lake O’ the Pines / Ferrells Bridge Dam Water Control Manual and environmental-flow information for Big Cypress Bayou and Caddo Lake:
U.S. Geological Survey — Relation of water levels in the Red River alluvial aquifer to the Red River, documenting river/aquifer hydraulic relationships:
U.S. Geological Survey — Louisiana groundwater withdrawals dataset; approximately 960 million gallons per day, or about 51% of Louisiana groundwater withdrawals, came from the Chicot aquifer system:
More than a century before commercial air travel became routine, Orville Wright was born Aug. 19, 1871, in Dayton, Ohio.
Orville Wright would go on to become one of aviation’s most important pioneers alongside his brother, Wilbur. The Wright brothers developed and flew the first successful powered airplane in 1903, changing transportation and opening a new chapter in human history.
Their achievement did not come easily. The brothers spent years studying flight, building gliders and conducting experiments before successfully controlling a powered aircraft.
Orville’s Aug. 19 birthday is also shared by another name associated with groundbreaking technology: Gene Roddenberry, creator of “Star Trek,” was born on the same date in 1921. Former President Bill Clinton was also born Aug. 19, 1946.
Aug. 19 has been the date of several other notable moments in history, including the 1812 battle in which the USS Constitution defeated the British ship HMS Guerrière and earned the nickname “Old Ironsides.” In 1960, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 5, carrying two dogs that became the first animals to survive an orbital flight and return safely to Earth.
But for aviation, Aug. 19 carries a particularly fitting connection: it marks the birth of the man who, with his brother, helped turn the dream of human flight into reality.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) recreational alligator harvest lottery will open Thursday (Aug. 20) through Aug. 30. LDWF will conduct the recreational season on eight harvest zones beginning Oct. 1-31.
Please note: This is for the recently adopted recreational alligator lottery and not the longstanding commercial alligator lottery harvest application that was completed in July.
Recreational alligator lottery applications will only be available on the LDWF licensing website. Those wanting to apply should click on the Lottery Applications tab, update or create their customer details similar to purchasing a license, and then submit an application for the zone that they wish to hunt.
There is a non-refundable $50 application fee for each zone application submitted. Customers may apply for and win a harvest opportunity for more than one zone, but there will be an application fee for each zone applied for. Applicants must be legal Louisiana residents, 16 years of age or older and meet all hunter education requirements.
If selected, you will be required to purchase a Resident Alligator Sports Hunter License ($25). To assist applicants with their selection(s), LDWF has posted a map and descriptions of the recreational harvest zones on its website.
Louisiana has a long history of officials cutting deals with private interests at the public’s expense. During the oil and gas boom, the state left severance tax revenue on the table while enforcement gaps let industry pollute our air, water, and land for decades. Governor Jeff Landry has accelerated that pattern faster than any of his predecessors. He installed an unqualified Secretary of Environmental Quality, then reorganized the Department of Natural Resources into something even statehouse reporters can’t fully explain. This year the legislature signed off on tax breaks and NDAs for AI data centers, keeping voters in the dark about what those companies are getting and what they’re using.
Now it’s SpaceX’s turn, and it’s the biggest giveaway yet.
The Landry administration is negotiating to hand over roughly 130,000 acres on Pecan Island, in Vermilion Parish, for a rocket blast pad, not a research facility, the kind Boca Chica, Texas is still fighting over. That land is reportedly tied to Exxon’s punishment, part of a coastal damages settlement for decades of polluting our marshes, though the settlement itself is sealed by court order. If that reporting holds up, instead of restoring the land, the state is routing it straight to Elon Musk.
Pecan Island is about the worst possible place for this. The coast there has been sinking and washing away for decades, and hurricanes are speeding it up. The site borders two wildlife refuges and some of the best hunting and fishing water left in this state, the kind “Sportsman’s Paradise” was supposed to protect. If this goes through, we can stop pretending coastal restoration is a real priority in Louisiana.
The legislature already greased the wheels this session, passing tax breaks and liability shields for unnamed “aerospace” companies and exempting them from public records requests. So, when something goes wrong, and something eventually will, Louisianans may not have the right to sue, and may not even have the right to know. Now Trump’s FAA wants to waive thirteen federal environmental and health laws, including the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, so Musk doesn’t have to deal with “regulatory burden.”
We don’t even know the full extent of what Musk stands to gain. We know the eligibility thresholds in the tax break bills, not the actual value of what’s being handed over. Given how this Republican-controlled legislature has handled every other corporate giveaway this year, there’s little reason to think this deal is any different.
Local officials keep telling us we must accept this to “compete.” I don’t buy it. A state that can only land these deals by throwing out the rule of law and hiding negotiations behind NDAs is giving Louisiana away, one 130,000-acre parcel at a time.
Most Louisianans haven’t been told what this deal actually involves. That’s worth being angry about. Ask your legislators what they voted for this spring, and whether they’ll say so publicly.
Hunters For The Hungry Louisiana is back again on Aug. 23 asking Louisiana to make more room in their freezer for the upcoming hunting season. They’re welcoming all perishable donations to one of the drop-off locations throughout the state for the annual Clean Out Your Freezer Day on Aug. 23 (dates and times may vary).
While most Clean Out Your Freezer Day drop-off locations are open on Aug. 23 only, everyone is encouraged to visit www.cleanoutyourfreezer.com to check ALL drop-off times and dates in their community as some may begin on Aug. 17 or run as late as Aug. 28. Hunters For The Hungry Louisiana (H4H) will accept any properly packaged, labeled, and dated game, fish, or other protein, as well as other frozen food at the multiple drop-off locations.
“Moving Clean Out Your Freezer Day to late August the last few years have proven to result in great success with record breaking pounds of donations. We want to continue to make it convenient for all sportsmen as they’re preparing for the upcoming hunting season and possibly unloading from the fishing season,” says Julie Grunewald, executive director of Hunters For The Hungry Louisiana. “We’ve also continued to make the drop-off locations more convenient so you’ll find that we’re hosting at more markets, specifically with a few more Rouses Markets on the schedule. We feel this will be easier for everyone, especially as they’re shopping for the week ahead.”
Nearly 18,500 pounds of frozen goods were collected from Clean Out Your Freezer Day 2025, just clearing over the 18,251 pounds in 2024. The goal for H4H is to surpass the 2025 donations to provide for the needy. The distribution goes through the five (5) major food banks in Louisiana, as well as direct to shelters and kitchens and other agencies.
With the support of local food banks, churches, and community betterment organizations, H4H hosts a 2026 Clean Out Your Freezer Day drop-off location in the following cities and regions:
As an angler who has fished it all: BFL’s, Toyota Series, ABA Solo 150’s, ABA Pro League, Bassmaster Opens, Fisher’s of Men, Media Bass, Angler’s Choice and too many others I just can’t remember, I can say that some of these were great tournament trails and some were just OK.
Now don’t get me wrong, there’s never been a circuit that I didn’t enjoy, but there’s an issue I would like to address. Major League Fishing (MLF) is taking the BFL’s from a pro/am draw format and making it a team/solo trail, hoping they can get their numbers up.
Do we really need another team trail? I think I speak for a lot of anglers who still like to fish solo/individual trails and the last thing anglers need is another team trail as we have too many already! Since the demise of ABA dropping the Solo 150 and the Pro Leagues, the only remaining individual trails are the Bassmaster Opens and the Toyota Series.
Both of these are very expensive with the Toyota’s costing an angler on the pro side $1,700 per event while the B.A.S.S Opens will cost you $2,000. The BFL was considered an entry level circuit designed for the working man but will now cost you $500 per event as a team/solo entry.
Years ago, the BFL’s would draw a full field of 200 boaters (which used to be the case) due to the low entry fee, but their payback was the worst of any circuit out there as they took part of BFL’s money to help support its upper-level circuits, therefore shorting the anglers supporting the BFL’s.
Another issue has been that ever since the “Live Scope” controversy started, BLF participation has gone down dramatically as so many anglers refuse to participate in events where this technology is allowed. Boaters and co-anglers walked away faster than a hook set.
So, after a few years of low turnouts for the BFL’s, Major League Fishing (MLF) will be taking this circuit in a totally different direction. I hope they thought this through as it has just eliminated the last remaining pro/am circuit for the lower level of tournament bass fishing.
As an angler who loves fishing a solo/individual circuit, I really wish MLF would have put the same amount of guaranteed first place money of $10,000 and kept the original format of a pro/am circuit. Anglers would have flocked for this kind of guarantee!
The next issue is the fact that there will be no limit on using forward-facing sonar (FFS) for 2027 when fishing the BFL Team Trail. This will bring out many of the younger anglers who have grown up using FFS. But one thing I wish MLF would adopt for 2027 is only allowing the use of FFS every other tournament like Bassmaster does with their schedule.
This would help to level the playing field especially with the older generation of anglers particularly on lakes where local anglers tend to dominate. As far as what to do with forward-facing sonar in the long run, we may not have a choice as some states, starting with Florida, are looking to ban FFS altogether.
If this happens, other state organizations will follow suit and implement the same rule. Then FFS will no longer be an issue for tournament organizations to deal with.
I’m so tired of talking about it and yet no matter what decisions are made from ANY organization, everyone has their own opinion if this technology is good or bad, as the division continues nationwide on this topic.
It appears this year’s three-hour FFS rule for the BFL’s and the Toyota Series has been the most popular and if that’s the direction they want to go, so be it … I DON’T CARE! Even if they choose to take it away completely… I DON’T CARE! Just make a decision, stick with it and move on!
I know this article will draw some comments and I welcome everyone’s opinion. We have enough team trails nationwide and need more solo or individual circuits to help balance things outs and give anglers another option.
Good luck, good fishing, stay cool and be safe out there if you’re going to brave the heat to wet a hook.
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
As a child, I loved looking at illustrated maps of the world. You probably remember them, too—cartoonish maps featuring the pyramids of Egypt, the Eiffel Tower in France, Big Ben in Great Britain, the Colosseum and Leanin0g Tower of Pisa in Italy, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Those maps sparked my imagination. I daydreamed about riding a camel in Cairo, floating through the canals of Venice in a gondola, and seeing all the incredible places that seemed so impossibly far away.
And then there was The Brady Bunch.
In the unforgettable three-episode “Hawaii” adventure, the Brady family flew to Honolulu, hula danced, attended a luau, went surfing, stayed at the Sheraton-Waikiki, and explored mysterious tiki caves. I was by no means deprived as a child, but I desperately wanted to hear my parents say those magical words: “We’re going to Hawaii!”
Eventually, I realized that my family probably wasn’t going to visit Hawaii—or many of the faraway places I dreamed about.
Life, however, has a funny way of bringing some childhood dreams full circle.
As an adult, I have been blessed with some amazing experiences and adventures around the world. I have traveled with large groups, with friends and companions, and often by myself. I have visited Hawaii and many of the places I once studied on those childhood maps.
And while I still love exploring the world, one of my greatest joys is watching someone experience a new place, culture, or adventure for the very first time.
That is one reason I am especially excited about an opportunity coming to Riverdale Academy.
Expanding the Classroom
Riverdale Academy has partnered with Education First Tours to give our students the opportunity to experience the world beyond the classroom.
In the spring of 2028, Riverdale students and alumni will have the opportunity to travel to London, Paris, Milan, Florence, and Rome.
Several activities are already planned, including a walking food tour, a scavenger hunt, and cooking classes. Students will also have the opportunity to earn educational credits as part of the experience.
For me, this is about much more than checking destinations off a list.
Travel teaches things that are difficult to learn from a textbook alone. It puts history under your feet. It introduces you to people whose lives may look different from your own. It gives you the chance to taste foods you’ve never tried, hear languages you’ve never spoken, navigate unfamiliar streets, and discover that the world is both wonderfully different and surprisingly connected.
Hopefully, this will be the first of many Riverdale trips. Students have already expressed interest in destinations including Japan, Germany, Scotland, and Ireland.
Who knows? Maybe someday a Riverdale student will look back and realize that one of these trips was the beginning of a lifelong love of exploring the world.
Growing Minds—and People
At Riverdale Academy, we are striving to give our students the best education possible while also giving them the greatest opportunities and experiences we can.
When our students show an interest in something, we want to nurture that interest.
That philosophy has led to an ever-growing list of opportunities at Riverdale, including chess club, quiz bowl, robotics, fishing, 4-H, educational travel, the Sea Perch Program, Junior Beta and Senior Beta Clubs, and a wide variety of sports.
These activities may look different from one another, but they have something important in common: they give students opportunities to discover what they can do.
Sometimes, that discovery happens in a classroom. Sometimes it happens on a playing field, at a robotics competition, while fishing, solving a difficult chess problem, or traveling halfway around the world.
We believe all of those experiences matter.
Sometimes, Small Is Better
One of the advantages of Riverdale Academy is that most of our classes are small.
That allows our teachers to provide focused instruction and give students the extra help, attention, or time they need. We have seen students who might have been considered behind make tremendous progress through determination and hard work, combined with the commitment of their teachers and parents.
We have students who are now reading on level—or above level—because people refused to give up on them.
Those success stories mean a great deal to us.
Education isn’t simply about where a student starts. It’s about helping them discover where they can go.
Welcome to the Riverdale Family
This year, we have welcomed many new students and their parents into our Riverdale family.
Our current students have, in many cases, gone out of their way to make those new students feel accepted and included. The new students and their parents tell us they are loving their experience at Riverdale.
And we love having them here.
That sense of belonging is just as important to us as academics and extracurricular activities. We want our students to be challenged, encouraged, supported, and successful.
Perhaps most importantly, we want them to believe that their possibilities are bigger than they may have imagined.
What childhood dream is waiting for your child?
Maybe it isn’t a trip to Europe.
Maybe it’s becoming a scientist, an athlete, an engineer, an artist, a leader—or simply becoming more confident in who they are.
At Riverdale Academy, we’re working to create an environment where students can explore those possibilities, stretch their minds, discover new interests, and become well-rounded young people.
If you are looking for a school that will challenge your children academically while giving them opportunities to experience new things and discover their potential, we have a place for your family.
Even though the new school year has begun, we continue to hear from families interested in Riverdale Academy, and we will accept new students for as long as we are able. Over the years, Riverdale has hosted students from Red River, Natchitoches, DeSoto, Bienville, Caddo, and Bossier Parishes.
To learn more about what is happening at Riverdale Academy, check out our Facebook page or visit riverdaleacademy.org.
If you have questions or would like to schedule a tour, contact sgreer@riverdaleacademy.org, hbrown@riverdaleacademy.org, or call 318-471-5155.
Because sometimes the experiences we give our children today become the stories—and dreams—they carry with them for the rest of their lives.
And who knows?
Maybe one day, when they see an old map of the world, they’ll be able to point to a place and say, “I’ve been there.”
“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
— Psalm 126:3
Riverdale Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or national origin.
It is a little early for Christmas music, but that old Christmas song has been running through my mind this morning.
I am sitting in my new little 4-by-6-foot office, practicing my pastor emeritus skills. Apparently one of those skills is sitting still long enough to notice what is going on around you. After years of meetings, sermons, phone calls, hospital visits, committee reports, and somebody always needing to know where the extension cord is, sitting quietly feels almost suspicious.
But this morning, I am listening.
Right now, the church building is silent. That will change soon.
Today is the first day of school for our preschool children. We have 104 children enrolled, which means that in a little while this silence is going to disappear. I expect to hear laughter, crying, little feet running down hallways, teachers giving instructions, parents saying goodbye, and perhaps one child announcing loudly that he absolutely does not intend to participate in whatever has been planned for him.
In other words, I expect to hear life.
And I cannot wait.
While I sit here listening for those sounds, another question occurs to me:
What are we listening for? And who are we listening to?
Jesus talked a surprising amount about listening.
Again and again he said, “Let anyone with ears listen.” He told his disciples to pay attention to what they heard. And in John’s Gospel Jesus described his relationship with us this way: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”
Apparently discipleship involves more than talking.
That includes prayer.
We usually think of prayer as talking to God, and certainly it is. We bring God our worries, hopes, fears, families, decisions, illnesses, disappointments, and dreams. We pray because we believe God listens and responds because God loves us.
But here is the harder question:
After we finish talking, do we listen?
Sometimes my prayers resemble leaving a voicemail for God.
“Lord, here are the problems. Here is what I need. Here is what I think you ought to do. Thank you very much. Amen.”
Click.
And then I am off to the next thing.
Maybe prayer occasionally needs a little silence at the end.
“Speak, Lord. I’m listening.”
Perhaps God’s answer will come through Scripture. Perhaps through another person. Perhaps through an unexpected thought, a nudging of conscience, a door opening—or closing. And sometimes God may simply give us the quiet assurance that we are loved and that we do not walk alone.
Soon the hallway will be filled with 104 little reminders that silence does not last forever.
But for this moment, it is quiet.
So I am listening.
Listening for children.
Listening for life.
Listening for God.
There is great joy in discovering that amid all the noise of this world, the Shepherd is still speaking.
The question is not only, “Do you hear what I hear?”
Hot and humid conditions will continue yet again across Bienville Parish this week as a typical midsummer weather pattern remains in place. Afternoon highs will climb into upper 90s most days, though the forecast window opens with highs of 100. A few clouds will make an appearance later in the forecast window with a chance for thunderstorms over the weekend.
Wednesday, Aug. 19: Sunny with a few clouds in the afternoon. A few clouds overnight. High 100, low around 76.
Thursday, Aug. 20: Hot and sunny. Partly cloudy skies overnight. High 100, low around 75.
Friday, Aug. 21: Partly cloudy skies. A few clouds overnight, winds light and variable. High around 98, low near 73.
Saturday, Aug. 22: Partly cloudy in the morning; scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon, chance of rain 50%. High near 96, low around 72.
Sunday, Aug. 23: Partly cloudy day and overnight. High near 96, low around 71.
Monday, Aug. 24: Mostly sunny skies; winds light and variable. Clear to partly cloudy skies overnight. High near 98, low around 73.
Tuesday, Aug. 25: Sunny with a few clouds from time to time. Overnight skies will be clear with a few clouds. High 98, low 74.
Bienville Parish continues into the third week of August with sunshine, high temps, and clouds. Saturday may see scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon, but none are predicted to be severe. Heat index values will climb well above the actual air temperature during peak afternoon hours, so residents should stay hydrated, limit prolonged outdoor activity, and seek shelter immediately if thunderstorms develop.
Rachel lived on the island of Saint Croix in the Caribbean. She married Johann Lavien and they had a son named Peter, but Johann was such an abusive husband that Rachel left for her own safety. In retaliation, Johann had her imprisoned for adultery. Upon her release, Rachel sailed from Saint Croix to another island in the Caribbean called Saint Kitts. There, she met a Scottish trader named James. Shortly thereafter, Rachel’s father died and left her a seaside lot on the nearby island of Nevis. She and James moved there together but could not marry because she was still technically married to Johann. Rachel had two sons with James, James Jr. and Alex. After a little over ten years together, James abandoned Rachel and his children. Some historians argue that James left to protect Rachel and their illegitimate children from legal action brought on by Johann. Whatever the reason, Rachel and her two sons sailed back to Saint Croix. Three years after James left, Rachel and Alex contracted yellow fever. Alex made a full recovery, but Rachel did not. She died at the young age of 39.
Things went from bad to worse. James Jr. and Alex became orphans. Because she was still married to Johann at the time of his death, he had control of her estate. Johann sold all of Rachel, James Jr., and Alex’s possessions in an auction. For a few months, James Jr. and Alex lived with their cousin, Peter Lytton, until he died by suicide. James Jr. became an apprentice to a carpenter and Alex became a clerk at an import/export company on the island. Alex was not yet a teenager.
On one hot August day, a powerful hurricane devastated Saint Croix and changed the course of Alex’s life. Well, not the hurricane itself, but a letter Alex wrote which described the hurricane. Alex wrote the letter to his father. Alex’s mentor, a minister and newspaper editor, was impressed with the letter and published in the local newspaper. “Honoured Sir,” Alex Wrote, “I take up my pen just to give you an imperfect account of one of the most dreadful Hurricanes that memory or any records whatever can trace, which happened here on the 31st ultimo at night.” Ultimo was short for “in the previous month.” As he neared the end of his letter, Alex wrote, “I am afraid, Sir, you will think this description more the effort of imagination, than a true picture of realities. But I can affirm with the greatest truth, that there is not a single circumstance touched upon, which I have not absolutely been an eyewitness to.” When the people of Saint Croix read the article, they were also impressed. Those who knew Alex knew he was illegitimate and uneducated, but they knew how hard he worked. They paid for Alex to come to North America for a proper education and to give him a chance at a better life. Alex did not squander the opportunity. While in college, war broke out and Alex joined the military. Within a short time, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel because of leadership abilities and became the chief staff aid to the general in charge of the whole war. After the war, Alex became a delegate to Congress, practiced law, and founded a bank. When the general he served under became President of the United States, he chose Alex as his Secretary of the Treasury. Because of this position, those of us who still carry cash can see him on our $10 bills. Alex, that illegitimate orphan who achieved the American dream, who was a signer of the U.S. Constitution, was Alexander Hamilton. And it all started because of a letter to his father.
The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers.
8/02/26
Brandon Gray of Saline was arrested for Operating Vehicle with Suspended License – Other Offenses.
Donovan Haulcy of Arcadia was arrested for Possession of Marijuana Over 14 Grams/1st Offense (Misdemeanor) and Violation of Probation/Parole.
Patrick Hawk of Camden, AR, was arrested for Driver Must Be Licensed (2nd or Subsequent).
Destini Weathersby of Richland, MS, was arrested for Driver Must Be Licensed and Maximum Speed Limit.
8/03/26
Zeke Kelpe of Ruston was arrested for Failure to Appear Warrant (Misdemeanor).
Jameion Cooper of Ringgold was arrested for Violation of Probation/Parole.
Kyle Wiggins of Ringgold was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery with Child Endangerment (Felony).
Braxton Fenton of North, MS, was arrested for Operating Vehicle with Suspended License – Other Offenses and Maximum Speed Limit.
Wesley Smith of Campti was arrested for Child Support Obligation (Misdemeanor).
Robert Denson of Ringgold was arrested for Aggravated Battery with Dangerous Weapon (Felony).
Kiante Duffie of Arlington, TX, was arrested for Failure to Appear Warrant (Misdemeanor).
8/04/2026
Lewis Abney of Arcadia was arrested for 2 counts of Criminal Trespass (Misdemeanor).
Breuna Love of Minden was arrested for 3 counts of Failure to Appear Warrant (Misdemeanor).
Justin Willis of Ringgold was arrested for Possession of Marijuana Over 14 Grams/1st Offense (Misdemeanor); Distribution of Marijuana; Distribution of Methamphetamine (Felony); Possession or Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor); Illegal Carrying of Weapons (Felony); and Distribution of Klonopin (Clonazepam; Felony).
Mark Adams of Ringgold was arrested for Aggravated Assault (Misdemeanor) and Aggravated Battery with Dangerous Weapon (Felony).
James George of Princeton was arrested for Failure to Appear Warrant (Misdemeanor).
8/05/26
Nicholas Regan of Monroe was arrested for 2 counts of Fugitive.
Curtis Morgan of Bienville was arrested for Theft (Misdemeanor); Violation of Probation/Parole; and Caretaker Has Willfully Failed to Attend Meeting with Child’s School.
Martez Miller of Minden was arrested for Fugitive.
8/06/26
Arkeciyah Ward of Arcadia was arrested for Theft (Misdemeanor); 2 counts of Disturbing the Peace – Offensive, Derisive, Annoying Words to Another (Misdemeanor); and Resisting an Officer (Misdemeanor).
Jherick Mireles Sierra was arrested for Driver Must Be Licensed.
Rolando Ashley of Ringgold was arrested for Enter/Remain After Being Forbidden – Immovable Structure (Misdemeanor); Criminal Trespass – Immovable Structure (Misdemeanor); and Violation of Probation/Parole.
Natassja Griffin of Mendenhall, MS, was arrested for Maximum Speed Limit and Driver Must Be Licensed.
8/07/26
David Buckley of Ruston was arrested for Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and Possession or Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor).
Michael Bryant of Sibley was arrested for Identity Theft (Felony); Operating Vehicle with Suspended License – Other Offenses; Evidence of Compulsory Motor Vehicle Liability Secured Contained in Vehicle; Resisting an Officer (Misdemeanor); and Owner to Secure Registration (Misdemeanor).
Jaylen Stafford of Arcadia was arrested for Violation of Probation/Parole.
Kenny Daniels of Homer was arrested for Fugitive.
Adrian Garcia of Grand, TX, was arrested for Maximum Speed Limit.
Shannon Little of Campti was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine Less Than 28 Grams (Felony).
Erica Edwards of Arcadia was arrested for Violation of Probation/Parole.
Jarred Dickson of Campti was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine Less Than 28 Grams (Felony) and Simple Obstruction of a Highway of Commerce (Misdemeanor).
8/08/26
Don Duck of Saline was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery (Misdemeanor).
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.
Qualifying for the upcoming election cycle has officially concluded, setting the field of candidates who will appear on the local ballot. Across the parish, voters will consider candidates seeking office at every level of leadership, from key judicial seats and school board positions to municipal offices and parish-wide boards.
To help keep our readers informed, Journal Staff has compiled a complete roster of candidates who have qualified for contested races. Below is the official list of candidates, organized by office, along with their political party affiliation and direct contact details to help you connect with those seeking to represent our community.
City millage rates don’t always change from year to year, and in many cases, they remain the same, according to the Bienville Parish Assessor’s Office.
This comparison shown above from the 2026 Annual Bienville Parish Tax Roll Booklet shows the city millage rates for 2024 and 2025, along with the property tax revenue generated for each municipality.
While the Bienville Parish Assessor’s Office determines the assessed value of property, each municipality is responsible for setting its own millage rate. Those property tax revenues help fund local services and operations within each community.
Hot and humid conditions will continue yet again across Bienville Parish this week as a typical midsummer weather pattern remains in place. Afternoon highs will climb into the middle and upper 90s each day. A few clouds will make an appearance later in the forecast window, the week will largely see lots of sun.
Wednesday, Aug. 12: Sunny and hot. Clear skies overnight. High near 97, low around 76.
Thursday, Aug. 13: Hot and sunny. Clear skies overnight. High near 97, low around 74.
Friday, Aug. 14: Hot and sunny. Clear skies overnight, winds light and variable. High around 98, low near 74.
Saturday, Aug. 15: Mainly sunny skies. Clear skies overnight. High near 98, low around 74.
Sunday, Aug. 16: Mostly sunny skies. A mostly clear sky overnight. High near 98, low around 74.
Monday, Aug. 17: Lots of sunshine; winds light and variable. High near 99, low around 74.
Tuesday, Aug. 18: Sunny with a few clouds from time to time. High 99, low 75.
Bienville Parish continues into the second week of August with sunshine, heat, and occasional clouds. No sign of thunderstorms this week. Heat index values may climb well above the actual air temperature during peak afternoon hours, so residents should stay hydrated, limit prolonged outdoor activity, and seek shelter immediately if thunderstorms develop.
The Bienville Parish Police Jury will be convening for their August regular meeting today, Wednesday, August 12, at 9am at the Bienville Parish Courthouse in Arcadia.
The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) today announced HomeReady, a statewide initiative that modernizes how Louisiana welcomes and certifies foster and kinship families as part of the effort to modernize the state’s foster care system.
Launching statewide in October 2026, HomeReady will provide Louisiana families with a clearer, more consistent experience as they answer the call to care for children. By modernizing how caregivers enter and move through the training and certification process, the initiative will reduce unnecessary administrative burden and help more children find safe, stable families.
HomeReady is also a foundational investment in Louisiana’s A Home for Every Child initiative, a comprehensive strategy to ensure every child who needs foster care has the opportunity to grow up in a family rather than a congregate setting. Expanding family-based care requires not only recruiting more foster and kinship families, but also providing a welcoming and transparent experience for those willing to serve Louisiana’s children. HomeReady strengthens Louisiana’s ability to support the families our children need.
Through HomeReady, prospective caregivers will be able to complete applications, find and complete training, submit required documentation, and monitor their progress through a modern online experience. The initiative will also equip DCFS staff with digital tools allowing them more time to support children and families and less time managing administrative processes.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable family,” said Rebecca Harris, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. “By modernizing how we welcome and certify foster and kinship families, we’re expanding opportunities for families to serve, giving our workforce better tools to support caregivers and building the capacity needed to achieve A Home for Every Child. We are modernizing the experience for families and improving outcomes for children because our children can’t wait.”
Louisiana is participating in the U.S. Administration for Children and Families’ A Home for Every Child initiative, a national effort focused on increasing family-based care, strengthening caregiver recruitment and retention, reducing reliance on congregate care, and helping children achieve permanency. HomeReady is a critical component of that effort, modernizing one of the first experiences prospective caregivers have with Louisiana’s child welfare system while helping the department better connect children with the right families.
The HomeReady platform is powered by technology provided by Binti, a national child welfare software company whose platform supports agencies in streamlining caregiver certification and administrative processes.
“We’re honored to partner with DCFS on the launch of HomeReady,” said Felicia Curcuru, CEO and Co-founder of Binti. “At Binti, we focus on streamlining the process for families to apply online, including on their phone, to become an approved caregiver. We also reduce administrative burden for social workers, helping them focus more on social work and less on paperwork. Binti brings a track record of launching this product in over 15 states state-wide, certifying over 120,000 foster families across the country, and driving measurable results. We’re excited to partner with DCFS to increase the number of certified caregivers for children in Louisiana.”
HomeReady is one of several initiatives underway as DCFS transforms Louisiana’s child welfare system. Alongside initiatives including Right Response, the Community Pathways Network, and A Home for Every Child, HomeReady reflects Louisiana’s commitment to strengthening families, reducing barriers to care, supporting foster and kinship caregivers, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to achieve permanency in a safe home.
Shall be my brother…” -from Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt by William Shakespeare
Riverdale Academy experienced many victories last week, one of the biggest being the formation of the 2026 RA Rebels football team! They started with a small group, but their numbers have continued to grow. For this, we are truly grateful.
Riverdale’s 4-H students competed in the National 4-H Forestry Invitational in West Virginia, where their team placed fourth in the nation. Individually, our students earned 9th-, 10th-, and 12th-place national finishes. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments!
Our Rebels and Lady Rebels basketball teams had a great time at their summer basketball camps, where they gained valuable experience. They have been putting in the work, and we are excited to see what this season holds for them.
We also hosted cheer camps for everyone from our Mini Cheer squad to our varsity cheerleaders. We are thankful for their enthusiasm and school spirit.
Riverdale has held two workdays this summer—one in July with 34 participants and another in August with 44 participants. We greatly appreciate the hard work and dedication of everyone who volunteered.
The Lady Rebels’ softball season has just begun and we are looking forward to their growth as a young team.
Great things continue to happen at Riverdale Academy. We are excited to welcome many new families, and there is still room for more. We invite you to join us! We are still offering campus tours.
For more information, please contact hbrown@riverdaleacademy.org or call 318-471-5155.
You can also visit riverdaleacademy.org or follow the Riverdale Academy Facebook page to stay up to date on all the exciting things happening at RA.
Have you ever wanted to use prescribed fire on your property for wildlife or forest management? Join us for the Piney Hills Prescribed Burn Association’s 6th annual membership meeting!
DATE: August 25th, 2026
TIME: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LOCATION: Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, 161 Camp Rd, Ruston, LA 71270
Prescribed burning associations, or frequently called PBA’s, consist of landowners and other concerned citizens creating partnerships to conduct prescribed burns – Neighbors Helping Neighbors Getting Fire Back on the Ground.
Through the sharing of knowledge, equipment, time and experience, the Piney Hills PBA has been safely and effectively increasing burned acres in North-Central Louisiana since 2021. If you’re passionate about wildlife habitat, forest health, wildfire risk or overall land management, this is for you.
The meeting is open to all current members and new folks looking to join or learn more. Annual dues are only $25, and please bring exact cash or check. We look forward to seeing you!
The Louisiana Black Bear Hunting Lottery is now open to hunters through Aug. 28. The hunt, administered by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), will be held in all Louisiana Black Bear Management Areas Dec. 5-20, 2026.
Bear Area specific population estimates and vital rate data were used to determine the number of bear harvest permits to be issued. A total of 42 tags will be issued through the lottery. Bear Management Area 4 will have 19 permits, Area 1 eight permits, areas 2 and 3 four permits each and areas 5, 6 and 7 two each. There will also be a LDWF Secretary’s permit to be auctioned.
Successful applicants will be required to attend an LDWF bear hunter training course prior to hunting on either Oct. 16, 17, 22 or 23. Individuals not attending one of these courses may be disqualified and forfeit their bear hunting permit.
Lottery applications are available only on the LDWF licensing website. Those interested in applying should update or create their customer details similar to purchasing a license and then submit an application. Possession of a valid black bear hunting license is required prior to applying for the WMA and the general Black Bear Lotteries. A $50 non-refundable application fee will be charged to each applicant. All applicants will be notified of their results via email as well as at the licensing website.
Bear harvest permits will consist of three types:Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Private Landowner and General. For instructions to apply visit the Louisiana Black Bear Hunting Lottery webpage.
For more information on the lottery application process, contact David Hayden at dhayden@wlf.la.gov. For more information on the Louisiana black bear and this year’s hunt, contact John Hanks at jhanks@wlf.la.gov.
We have reached the six-week mark after heart surgery and things are slowly getting back to normal, or close to what normal used to be. Once you’ve gone through open heart surgery, life is never the same. There are still many challenges I’m looking to conquer, and some will only be conquered with time.
The physical challenges were tough, especially right after surgery, with all the tubes hanging out of my chest and just trying to find the right position to be comfortable. But once those tubes were taken out two days after surgery, I was a new man as it was such a stress relief to have those removed.
One pleasant surprise has been the lack of pain. Every person I talked with who had been through open heart surgery said the leg where they take the vein out would be painful and hurt a lot. Well, not for me. I have not had the first ounce of pain from day one. While the chest has been sore, no pain there either! Just a lot of discomfort, especially when trying to lie down.
Now don’t kid yourself, a slight cough or sneeze can send you to a place of pain that will remind you of some form of torture. The best relief for this is to squeeze the heart-shaped pillow they issue after surgery, as it truly becomes your best friend.
But even more difficult for me have been the mental challenges that come with this type of surgery. My body has gone through a complete transformation with a weight loss of 30 pounds while trying to adapt itself to all the new changes and medicines.
Anxiety was extremely high after returning home, not having nurses checking your vitals every hour of the day and night. When they say the mind is a very powerful thing, it’s true, as your mind tends to race and wonder 24/7. Emotions run high and rampant as one minute you’re crying and the next you’re so happy you’ve survived.
Trying to sleep at night has been my biggest challenge as I’ve truly been afraid I would stop breathing if I fell asleep. Taking a nap was a major challenge even though I knew and understood that my heart was as good as new. I had trouble trusting myself and the work I had done on me.
Next is the adjustment to the medications … and I mean lots of medications. I think this also plays a huge role in your mental stability as it’s just another thing your body must adapt to.
Now that we are at the six-week mark post-surgery, things are getting much better daily. The anxiety issues have slowly faded away especially since I have a low dosage of medication for that.
But sleeping at night continues to be an issue as I tend to wake up every night at 3:00. Some nights, I’ll eventually go back to sleep and other times I’ll turn on the TV and just lay there hoping to fall back asleep.
This is very frustrating as I end up taking a long nap during the day just to regain energy. Food is still the enemy for me as nothing tastes like it’s supposed to. Soups seems to be the one thing I tend to like over anything else.
Presently, I continue to try solid food, even the things I really enjoyed before the surgery. Slowly the appetite is returning, and things are starting to taste better even though I’m on a low sodium diet.
One thing I have taken a liking to … chocolate protein drinks! These are really good and tend to make me feel full. Lately, I’ve been drinking one of these at some point during the day. Before I do my morning walk, I’ve learned that it helps to have some form of solid food for breakfast as it really helps my energy level.
Again, while things are getting better and I continue to gain more strength, getting back into a routine has been very important in my metal state of mind. Hopefully this week my doctor will give me the OK to start driving again and regain some of my independence. My wife, Sherrie, has been an excellent chauffeur!
Here’s some food for thought. Not too long ago, I wrote an article about how we all need a purpose in life. Well, it’s during times like this when having a purpose is more important than ever as it helps to occupy the mind. Hopefully soon, things will get back to what I used to call normal.
