The Shreveport-Bossier Journal will not publish on Tuesday, July 4, in order to allow our staff and contributors an extra day off and a longer Independence Day weekend.
Our next regular edition will be Wednesday, July 5. Thanks for reading the Shreveport-Bossier Journal – free to anyone.
She was waiting in the same place she had been positioned every day as the LSU baseball players made their way out of the hotel and on to the team bus. As she stood in that spot in the lobby, a 10-year-old boy with an LSU shirt on was also waiting to get a glimpse of the players as they walked by.
“Who is your favorite player?” she asked the boy, who was a local Midwest kid.
“Hayden Travinski,” he said. “Without a doubt.”
“Hang on a second,” she told him.
And that’s when she left her spot to grab the one LSU special souvenir item she had left – a Hayden Travinski-designer hat – and gave it to the boy.
“I want you to have this,” Dickie Travinski told the boy she had never met until a few minutes earlier.
You want to know what it meant for Hayden Travinski’s mother to be in Omaha at the College World Series for 11 days and see her son be a part of a national championship?
Start with that.
There are a lot of things that will bring tears to Dickie Travinski’s eyes when she recalls what she has just been a part of during the last two weeks. But it’s hard to explain.
“There are just no words,” she says. “You think those kids were excited? You should have seen me.”
Sure, the atmosphere was incredible. The excitement of being there as her child reached the pinnacle in college baseball was amazing.
But it was a lot of more than that.
It hasn’t been an easy road for her son. Though he committed to LSU when he was a freshman at Loyola (he would later play at Airline), it wasn’t as if Travinski walked on the field in Baton Rouge and began dominating.
His mother has watched as he battled injuries, slumps, a coaching change, more injuries, and an uncertain role on the team.
“You just can’t describe how amazing it is to watch your son, who has fought and scrapped and gone through some stuff, to come out as a national champion,” she says.
Given an opportunity a few weeks ago, it all began to click for Hayden Travinski as he went from an afterthought to the cleanup hitter in the potent LSU lineup.
During the SEC tournament, Dickie paused in front of the TV at her job at Cascio’s Market Bistro as the Tigers were playing. You would have never known it was her son at the plate as he delivered a base hit to knock in a run. She gave it a quick fist pump, let out a barely audible “Yes!” and went back to work.
But when the Tigers earned the trip to Omaha to play in the College World Series, she wouldn’t have to watch it on TV. “That was when all the power went out, but we just packed up and went,” she says. “Drove all night to get there and stayed for 11 days.”
She did not get much time with her son – “their schedule was pretty regimented,” Travinski says – but she knew what her main function was going to be: “Show up and cheer.”
Every day, there was a send-off for the team at the hotel with LSU fans crowding the lobby. Dickie Travinski knew there was only one way to see her son. “I stood in the same place every day so I knew he could see me,” she says. “That was everything to me.”
When it was over Monday night, and after a post-game hug across the rail, Dickie Travinski had a moment to reflect on what it all meant.
“It’s not just my son who fought to get there,” she says. “There are so many stories on that team just like that. (Hayden) reached that goal and so did our family. But so did all of those other families.”
Including a 10-year boy who now owns a Hayden Travinski hat.
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com
Centenary president Dr. Christopher L. Holoman is the lone American among seven new board members recently elected to serve the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU). Holoman and his colleagues will serve a three-year term on the board that leads IAMSCU, a global network representing more than 1,500,000 students at 1,000 Methodist institutions in 80 countries.
The new board members hail from Methodist institutions in Argentina, Australia, Germany, Japan, South Africa, and the United Kingdom in addition to Centenary in the United States.
“I am very honored to have been nominated and elected to serve on the IAMSCU Board,” said Holoman. “This organization does important work bringing Methodists in secondary and higher education from the entire world together to prepare leaders who will support and pursue the Wesleyan values of peace and justice in whatever their chosen pursuits are and in all parts of the world. Not only does this mission align with Centenary’s leading role in international education, I also hope I will be able to put my scholarly work on international cooperation to good use.”
IAMSCU organizes annual meetings, workshops, and conferences for organization members and supports special programs such as a Human Rights Network, the Methodist International Student Exchange Network (MISEN), and exchange programs for faculty and staff. The organization also provides institutional support, technical assistance, and fundraising and volunteer opportunities to Methodist educational institutions. IAMSCU is affiliated with several other Methodist organizations focused on global education and exchange, including the World Methodist Council, Methodist Global Education Fund, and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church.
“With a Centenary presence on a Board with members from all over the globe, I am excited to pursue new opportunities for our faculty and students to visit other countries and learn from their peers at overseas Methodist colleges, as well as to welcome new visitors to Shreveport. We are already looking forward to hosting a group of Japanese Methodist students in August,” said Holoman. “John Wesley famously said ‘all the world is my parish.’ At Centenary, we believe that all the world is our classroom. I am pleased to be able to open new opportunities to live out Centenary’s mission: to ‘prepare global citizens to live productive lives of vitality and purpose.’”
BATON ROUGE- With fireworks tents and stands popping up across the state this week, the State Fire Marshal’s Office wants to encourage all Louisiana residents to not only be safe when using fireworks, but knowledgeable when buying them.
More than 300 retail fireworks permits have been issued for the 2023 Fourth of July season, as it is state law for wholesale and retail fireworks business operators to be appropriately licensed by the SFM, in the parishes and municipalities where they are legally allowed. The sales season extends through 11:59 p.m. on July 5th.
The SFM encourages, first and foremost, that families choose to enjoy public fireworks displays over creating their own. However, if purchasing fireworks is your preference, we advise families to be mindful of whether the stand they are purchasing from has been permitted by this office. You can request to see permitting information from any retail fireworks business you patron. The SFM encourages reporting any suspicious or illegal sales of fireworks to 1-800-256-5452 or by visiting our website, lasfm.org.
In addition, we want everyone to enjoy fireworks in the safest way possible. A study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows that more than 200 people on average go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday.
To avoid becoming part of this statistic, the SFM advises:
· Detonating devices at least 200 feet away from structures, vehicles and rubbish
· Never allowing children to light fireworks; instead, provide glow sticks and trinkets as alternatives
· Never operating fireworks while impaired
· Lighting devices one at a time and monitoring embers released with a bucket of water or hose nearby
· Discarding detonated items by wetting them down to prevent reignition and not disposing of them in a trash container immediately
In addition, we encourage everyone to be mindful of the weather conditions in your area when considering whether to pop your own fireworks. Make sure you are aware of any burn bans established and take into account the dryness of your surroundings when choosing a safe location for popping fireworks.
You can definitely never go wrong with the combo of brown sugar and cinnamon in my book. I have so many variations for “honey bun” recipessssssss that I could probably make a mini cookbook of them! These cookies are scooped, pressed with a tablespoon and filled to overflowing with honey bun goodness. Then drizzle with extra icing to send them right over the top! Enjoy.
Cookies:
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl cream the butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Pour dry ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix until combined. Use a medium or large cookie scoop to place on baking sheets. Make the topping by whisking the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Add in melted butter and mix until combined. It will be crumbly. Use a tablespoon to press a well into the center of each cookie. Fill the well with the crumbly topping. Overflowing is ok! Bake for 12 minutes.
Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
It’s been 40 years now, and the tragedy is still resounding. But it also has become a vehicle for good, benefitting thousands of young people in Kansas City and back home locally.
On a steamy afternoon in Monroe, Haughton native Joe Delaney gave his life trying to save three drowning children.
It was June 29, 1983. The Northwestern State two-sport All-American and Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl running back was attending a water park outing for children at Chennault Park when he heard cries for help outside the park, from a nearby oxidation pond.
He handed his wallet to a bystander, telling him, “I can’t swim good, but I’ve got to try to help those kids,” dashed a couple hundred yards to the pond, and leaped in. He never made it back out. One child did.
Delaney was a two-time All-America running back in 1979-80 for the Demons. After being picked by Kansas City in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft, he joined Mark Duper, Victor Oatis and Mario Johnson on the Demons’ 1981 NCAA championship 4×100 meter relay team, earning All-America honors.
Delaney was the 1981 AFC Rookie of the Year for the Chiefs and played in the Pro Bowl. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy, who drafted Delaney in the second round of the 1981 draft and coached him in 1981-82, said Delaney was one of the five best players he coached in his 45-year career, including nearly 30 years in the NFL. He thought Delaney was destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Delaney left behind his wife, Carolyn, and their three young daughters. His heroic act matched his selfless lifestyle and coupled with his astounding athletic career to make him an instant icon in north Louisiana and elsewhere far beyond the sports world. Among those attending his funeral: then-vice president George Bush.
His No. 44 Demon football jersey was retired at halftime of his final game at NSU. Since his death, no Kansas City player has worn his No. 37. He is immortalized in several ways at Northwestern, including plaques at Turpin Stadium and the Ledet Track Complex, a painting by renowned sports artist Chris Brown in the student union, and with the permanent football team captains receiving Joe Delaney Memorial Leadership Awards annually. The Demons’ spring football game has been known as the Joe Delaney Bowl since 1989.
He was the subject of a 2015 film entitled “Delaney,” part of ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 Shorts series, available through ESPN+.
The Joe Delaney Park in Haughton honors his memory and provides play space for youth in his hometown. Swimming lessons are taught in his name in Kansas City, and next month will begin in Haughton, supported by The 37 Forever Foundation.
Last fall, the “Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program, Presented by GEHA Health” launched in Kansas City, supported by the Hunt Family Foundation and the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, reports Vahe’ Gregorian, a columnist for the Kansas City Star newspaper who covered Delaney in Kansas City and has avidly chronicled his story since. The Hunt family owns the Chiefs franchise and the late patriarch, Lamar Hunt, founded the team in Dallas and moved it to Kansas City shortly after being a founding owner of the American Football League in 1960.
The program is expanding this summer, Gregorian reports, including $10,000 in support to the Delaney37 Foundation to bolster its efforts to promote water safety in and around Haughton. Already, more than 100 local children have signed up. By summer’s end, nearly 1,000 children in Haughton and Kansas City will have gone through the program, which will provide swimsuits, goggles, swim caps and towels that bear the Delaney tribute decal the Chiefs wore in the 1983 season.
Three years ago, a monument honoring Delaney was dedicated at the site of the drowning in Monroe’s Chennault Park. The mayor of Kansas City declared Oct. 30, 2020 as “Joe Delaney Day” on what would have been his 62nd birthday.
In 2021, a two-mile stretch of I-435 going past Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City was renamed “Joe Delaney Memorial Highway.”
Delaney was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizen’s Medal from President Ronald Reagan, presented at his funeral by then Vice President George H.W. Bush to the Delaney family. Delaney is enshrined in the N Club Hall of Fame, the Ark-La-Tex Museum of Champions, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Chiefs’ Ring of Honor at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/TV
Close to three years ago I was at a high school game during the regular season, watching Evangel Christian playing Dutchtown. I was there to see some 2021 seniors playing, and left really impressed seeing a sophomore defensive end/linebacker for the Eagles.
His name was Gabriel Reliford, who back then was a lot smaller than his current physique, a chiseled 6-foot-2, 250 pounds. Gabriel has a chance to be a great one from a school which has produced many national recruits as defensive lineman. I really think he can be one of Evangel’s all-time stars.
This year he’s bigger and faster, tuning up to put on a show for Eagles fans and for the Aggies of Texas A&M.
Reliford just this week committed to coach Jimbo Fisher and the A&M program after visiting College Station/Bryan recently.
Of course, Evangel’s track record of producing big-time college standouts is extraordinary. Many have gone on to professional football. The man who’s been there since the beginning is extremely impressed with Reliford.
“Gabriel checks all the boxes,” said his head coach, Denny Duron. “He is one of the hardest working players I’ve ever seen. He is consumed by the game.
“He’s an honor student and leads on and off the field. He loves God, and honors his parents. At 6-2 250 pounds he runs the 100 meters in track and is almost impossible to block on the football field.
“This guy is one of those rare talents who comes along once in a lifetime. We as coaches are all pulling for him. He deserves every good thing that comes his way,” said Duron.
As Reliford looks forward to his senior season, there’s no limit to the Eagles’ potential, he told me.
“This year’s team has a chance to be special. In 2023 we plan to win state. All of us have gained game experience and we’re all ready to make a run at it,” he said.
Reliford admires his coach, who has had a guiding hand in the life of every football player ever to come through Evangel.
“Coach Duron is more than a coach to us. He’s a mentor, he teaches how to become better men, and just overall better people,” said Reliford. “I’m glad that I have the chance to play and learn under him.”
Reliford’s passion for the game began early.
“I started playing football at age 7. I like everything about football,” he said. “The atmosphere after making a big play is unmatched. Having teammates beside you working just as hard as you in a game is an unreal experience.”
I asked Gabriel who has had a big influence in his life.
“I would have to say my dad. He’s pushed me the most to become great at what I do and I’m forever grateful for having someone in my life like him.”
Reliford says it’s a neighborhood rivalry that lights his competitive fire the brightest.
“I love playing Huntington every year. They are not far from our school, just up the road, and it’s always fun to whoop up on those guys,” he said.
As he looks ahead to his future, Reliford starts by remembering what major colleges made a big impression on him as a youngster.
“I grew up liking Ohio State, Oregon, West Virginia and Michigan. These schools have produced some of the greatest athletes in the game of football and as a kid I enjoyed watching their highlights before games,” he said.
The recruiting process stepped up with the rising temperatures.
“I’ve been to Vandy on an official visit as well as Ole Miss,” he said,” and just recently was at Texas A&M which felt like home to me.”
Obviously, there’s no place like home. Gig ‘em, Gabriel!
Tidbits on Gabriel Reilford:
He plans to major in engineering at Texas A&M.
His dad played football for Fair Park, while his mom played softball at Woodlawn.
Coach Duron referenced the fact that Reliford runs sprints on the Evangel track team. In the 100 meters, he has been clocked at 11.6. WOW – imagine a young man of his size moving that fast!
His favorite Evangel football alumnus is Ardarius Washington, who had a great career at TCU as a cornerback and athlete.
Reliford likes to work out and watch long movie series.
His 2022 stats: 129 tackles, including six sacks and 27 tackles behind the line. He also had a blocked punt.
Other scholarship offers came from Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, SMU, Arizona State and Arkansas State. Although he’s committed, many other colleges will not throw in the towel.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
Lee Brecheen has operated Louisiana Football Magazine for over 30 years and is one of the state’s foremost experts on high school football and especially recruiting. Based in Baton Rouge, Lee travels statewide to watch practices and games and has broken down film and tape since the late 1980s. He has converted the printed product to a website (Lafootballmagazine.com) that will preview every high school and college football program in the state before kickoff this fall. Lee also hosts a football-centric TV show on YouTube, The Sports Scouting Report, on weekdays.
On a Sunday afternoon, Kay and I were driving home after a special Father’s Day lunch in town, and as I glanced toward the pasture across the road from our home, something caught my eye. It was a tiny fawn standing within a few yards of the pasture fence.
I stopped, lowered the window and snapped a few photos of the little fellow before it wandered off across the pasture. I posted a snapshot of the little deer on Facebook and within an hour, there were responses from others around the region who had also seen newborn fawns.
“We saw one about 20 minutes ago less than a few hours old”…”I saw one outside of Tullos in Winn Parish last Wednesday.”….”One was in my yard.”…”My husband saw two today here in the woods.”
What does this all mean? You don’t have to be a wildlife biologist to realize that this is the time of year when fawns are being born in our area.
Every year about this time, I receive a press release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) reminding people who encounter what appear to be abandoned young deer alone in the outdoors, that those fawns should be left undisturbed.
Here’s how the press release reads…”Every year the department receives calls from concerned citizens who have found what they consider to be ‘abandoned’ fawns. Well intentioned, concerned citizens sometimes bring fawns home and then call the department to retrieve and raise them.
“LDWF is alerting the public that it is against the law to capture young deer or any other wild animal. If caught transporting or possessing wild deer without a permit, well meaning individuals may be subject to citations and fines.
“Picking up fawns seriously diminishes their chance to live a normal and healthy life. When a fawn is born, it is weak, awkward and unable to move well enough to feed and escape predators. However, the newborn fawn has a coat of light brown hair liberally covered with white spots that provides excellent camouflage against predators. The mother doe will remain in the area to feed and nurture the fawn. When the young deer gets older and stronger it will be able to forage for food with its mother.
“When encountering fawns in the wild, simply leave them untouched and depart quietly from the area. This action will provide the young deer its best chance to survive in the wild and prevent a possible citation for a well-intentioned outdoorsman.
“There have been too many cases of kind-hearted folks picking up what they believe to be an abandoned fawn and with the idea of keeping it as a cute little pet. There have been numerous reports of that sweet little creature becoming aggressive and dangerous once it reaches maturity.
“If it is confirmed that the mother has in fact died, such as seeing a fawn next to a road-killed doe, what you should do is call the LDWF and report what you find. There are facilities that are licensed to take in such baby animals.”
If you should chance to walk up on one in the weeds or next to a log, snap a photo if you would like and back away slowly. The doe is likely peaking through the brush somewhere nearby and is probably watching you to see if you are a threat to her baby. Once things settle down and you leave, she’ll return and the little one will follow her away.
It’s tempting, I know, to have compassion on what seems to be a helpless little baby deer and rescue it from harm when in fact, this is Mother Nature’s way of taking care of the situation. Mother doesn’t need your help.
Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com
United Way of Northwest Louisiana (UWNWLA) is searching for volunteers to inventory items and encourage Walmart Supercenter shoppers to purchase and donate school supplies for students attending Bossier Parish Schools and Caddo Parish Public Schools.
UWNWLA’s Fill the Bus initiative, sponsored by Aetna, allows K-12 students in Bossier and Caddo parishes to start the upcoming school year with the basic tools needed for success and benefits more than 4,000 elementary, middle, and high school children identified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and/or families struggling to make ends meet. This initiative seeks to lessen the strain on already strapped household budgets as inflation rises. In 2022, according to the National Retail Federation, families with K-12 children in the United States spent, on average, $864 on school supplies, such as notebooks, pencils, backpacks, and lunchboxes.
“We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn and succeed, regardless of their socioeconomic background, said Raavin Evans, UWNWLA Director of Community Impact. “That is why we are excited to announce our upcoming school supply drive, where we aim to provide essential tools and resources to students in need. By coming together as a community, we can empower young minds, boost confidence, and pave the way for a bright future.”
Last year, UWNWLA collected more than 11,000 school supplies with an impact value of more than $15,000 for students and teachers at Bossier Parish Schools and Caddo Parish Public Schools. Monetary donations resulted in more than $1,900 for the school systems.
For more details on how to participate in Fill the Bus and sign up to become a volunteer, please visit https://unitedwaynwla.org/fillthebus/.
Fill the Bus 2023 will take place at participating Walmart Supercenters on the dates and at the times listed below:
Fill the Bus with Caddo Parish Public Schools
Walmart Supercenter: 1125 Shreveport Barksdale Hwy, Shreveport, LA 71105
Friday, July 21: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 22: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Fill the Bus with Bossier Parish Schools
Walmart Supercenter: 2536 Airline Dr, Bossier City, LA 71111
Friday, August 4: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 5: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
With support from the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities has awarded $457,000 in grants to 49 humanities organizations in 27 parishes. Forty-five organizations received general operating grants from the Louisiana Culture Care Fund (LCCF), totaling $425,000, and four organizations received Strategic Partnership grants, totaling $32,000.
Robinson Film Center – $15,000
Caddo Pine Island Oil & Historical Society (LA Oil & Gas Museum) – $5,000
About the Louisiana Culture Care Fund
The LCCF originally launched in 2020 in an effort to help mitigate impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s fund, with support from the State of Louisiana, continues to provide Louisiana’s cultural nonprofits with this vital funding.
“Cultural organizations across our state continue to struggle to reach pre-pandemic levels of support and engagement, further exacerbated by hurricane impacts,” said Erin Voisin, LEH director of grants. “The organizations these grants support engage the public in programming about our shared human experience. They create access points for learning and growing that enable us to connect with our histories, ourselves and one another.”
LCCF funds help organizations remain financially solvent by supporting operational expenses such as staff payroll and benefits, rent, mortgage, insurance and utilities. The grants were awarded to 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural organizations, public libraries and state and federally recognized Tribes with strong humanities focus, such as museums, historic sites and archives, as well as the state’s diverse array of humanities-focused media, festivals and more. Awards ranged between $5,000 and $15,000.
Organizations receiving grants span the farthest corners of the state, from Cameron to Caddo Parishes and East Carroll to Lafourche Parishes.
About Strategic Partnership grants
The LEH also awarded four Strategic Partnership grants, in the amount of $8,000 each, to four organizations producing high-impact humanities programming. These organizations represent long-time, trusted partners in geographically diverse areas of the state.
“The 2023 Strategic Partnership Grants are yet another way that the LEH continues to support the efforts of long-standing partners with a proven track record of success,” said Miranda Restovic, LEH executive director/president. “These large scale, impactful festivals and cultural series bring humanities programming of the highest quality to Louisiana residents.”
The 2023 Strategic Partnership Awardees are Banners at McNeese State University in Calcasieu Parish, the Louisiana Book Festival in East Baton Rouge Parish, the Northwestern State University Folk Festival in Natchitoches Parish and the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival in Orleans Parish.
More details about LEH’s grant programs may be found at www.leh.org/grants. To support the work of the LEH, visit www.leh.org/support-join.
About Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities to all residents of the state. Guided by the vision that everyone can realize their full potential through the humanities, LEH partners with communities, institutions and individuals to provide grant-supported outreach programs, literacy initiatives for all ages, publications, film and radio documentaries, museum exhibitions, public lectures, library projects, 64 Parishes magazine and other diverse public humanities programming. For more information, visit www.leh.org.
Norris Franklin Moss
December 15, 1941 — June 27, 2023
Service: Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 2 pm at Holly Ridge Assembly of God Church in Colquitt, LA.
Joel L. Myers
June 18, 1988 — June 23, 2023
Memorial Service: Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 10:30 am at First Assembly of God, Minden.
Aaron Brooks Lolley
July 21, 1978 — June 20, 2023
Memorial Service: Saturday, July 1, 2023, 2:00 p.m. at Forest Park Funeral Home, 1201 Louisiana Avenue, Shreveport.
Rudolph Bertsch
June 2, 1936 — June 16, 2023
Visitation: Saturday, July 8, 2023, 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home & Park, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, July 8, 2023, 4:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home & Park, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $90. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com)
No one in real life ever wears what models in big city fashion shows wear.
You’ve seen clips of these things on television or, in a weak moment, clicked to see the newest styles, all the rave, “the newest line” by (Made Up Designer Names Alert!) Melik Boovoir or Salome deNeuve or Pepe Duboir.
The model looks like he or she is wearing either a pastel Hefty bag — how to you take a bathroom break with this thing on? — or something they stole off a scarecrow. Everything is really tight or really slouchy. Sometimes they have hats on their heads that look like things we used to make in Vacation Bible School.
Who wears this stuff?
Even at awards shows, most of the Who Looked Best On The Red Carpet gang appear to have lost a bet. Tip of the cap for the man or woman who bought something off the rack pulled the standard tux out of the back of the closet, shined their shoes, and showed up looking like a person you wouldn’t be scared to share either a cab ride or a hymn book with.
For the past 10 days or so, between thunderstorms and power outages and picking up limbs, most of us north Louisiana common folk were too busy looking for air conditioning and cable to watch LSU scrap its way to a seventh College World Series championship to notice that the Berlin Fashion Show was underway in Germany which, conveniently, is where Berlin still is.
Dapper dressers were all up in the Neue Natoinalgalerie to become one with the highlight of the week, the Saint Laurent show, quite a spectacle with fans taking phone videos of, as GQ reported, “the latest evolution of Anthony Vaccarello’s seductive menswear collection.”
The fashion writer continued, something along the lines of how “all eyes” would be on “nonstop action on and off runways elsewhere, too.” Yes: after the “hyper-exclusive” affair in Berlin, we are off to places like Florence and Milan, which precedes a “whirlwind blitz through a jam-packed Paris Fashion Week.”
Again, the only real people you ever see in these runway clothes are the people on the runways. And as soon as they’re off the runways, they put on jeans and T-shirts and look much, much sharper than they did wearing clothes that look like balloons.
Granted, when I was growing up my dad told me my idea of being “dressed up” was having my shoes tied. And God love him, he was right. I can tie a tie now and keep my oxfords shined, but the only sense I have of fashion I have is, “Does this look normal? Would this embarrass my grandmother?” It’s about one step ahead of Granimals.
My personal mechanic, old-school country music supplier, and fashion assistant is Shine Broussard, who is from Morgan City. (He goes by “Francois” during Fashion Season; his signature color is brown.) He has assured me that although he can’t “travel abroad” to the Big Shows this summer and fall, he is making the local circuit, which includes stops in Dubach (August 7-11, Denim Week), Greater Sibley (September 18-22, Burlap), Gibsland (October 2-6, Gingham), and Lower Summerfield (November 27-December 1, Dealer’s Choice).
“My main fashion advice,” said Shine, “is to remember that no one pays nearly as much attention to you as you think they do. Save your money and be comfortable and presentable and non-offensive. Good taste never goes out of style.”
Shine, who is a fashionista only during the fall shows, told me this on a break from changing out the transmission on a GTO his uncle willed him. This is a man you can trust.
So …
If you’re like Shine and grease is a common opponent, consider a Dickies jumpsuit. Otherwise, an iron, a white button down, shined shoes, an A-line, a Godet or flare dress, a business suit, jeans that fit, and a clean T-shirt, those are always in style. It doesn’t have to match: it just has to “go.”
Good fashion sense is good common sense.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
The 2023 American Legion’s Boys State Program for the state of Louisiana is being held at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches the week of June 25 to July 1.
Two hundred eighteen young men from every corner of our state have converged on NSU to learn, hone their leadership skills, and have fun in this weeklong program.
The Boys’ State is an immersive learning experience sponsored by the American Legion. Louisiana’s Boys’ State has been in operation in its present form since 1960 and has been hosted at Northwestern State University since 2007.
The young men, all high school upperclassmen, have a busy week. They learn about government by a hands-on approach. They are divided into two political parties, develop platforms and policies, and run for office.
Monday, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, who attended Boys State as a young man, made a trek to NSU to visit with the attendees.
On Tuesday, the young men of Boys’ State met with more governmental leaders who took time from their duties to speak with them, answer questions, and give advice.
District 6 State Representative Thomas Pressly, himself a 2004 Boys’ State alumni, State Senator Louie Bernard, Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams, Judge Don Johnson of the 19 JDC in Baton Rouge, and T.J. Pittman, an Assistant District Attorney from Caddo Parish who also attended Boys’ State in 2013, spoke to the young men and fielded questions on everything from their careers to opinions on questions facing them in their positions.
Once elected, the citizens, as participants in the program are called, must deal with putting their policies into effect, often with additional situations introduced by staff members.
The program forces its participants to not only learn about government at the state and local level, but to grapple with policy and its implications.
Boys’ State and its counterpart, Girls’ State, is a comprehensive education on citizenship and its responsibilities.
One of the more noteworthy features of the program is the young men who are alumni of the program and who have come back to serve as unpaid volunteer leaders. These quality young men are one of the best testimonies to the program’s life changing effects.
In addition to a hands-on education in citizenship, every young person completing Boys’ or Girls’ State receives a scholarship to NSU worth $1,600.00 over 4 years should they choose to attend Northwestern State University after graduation.
Deputy Casey Bragg of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office demonstrated remarkable courage and quick thinking as he performed lifesaving measures on Captain Todd Hylbert of the Bossier City Police Department. The incident took place at a local Bossier City restaurant on May 26, where Deputy Bragg’s actions played a pivotal role in saving Captain Hylbert’s life.
On the evening of May 26, Deputy Casey Bragg was enjoying dinner at a Bossier City restaurant at a “going away” party with a group of law enforcement officers when a sudden medical emergency unfolded before his eyes. Captain Todd Hylbert, a respected member of the Bossier City Police Department, had suddenly collapsed, showing signs of severe distress. Without hesitation, Deputy Bragg sprang into action, recognizing the urgency of the situation.
Drawing from his extensive training and experience as a law enforcement officer, Deputy Bragg immediately assessed Captain Hylbert’s condition and determined that he required immediate lifesaving interventions. Deputy Bragg began performing chest compressions to maintain blood circulation and initiated rescue breathing to provide vital oxygen to Captain Hylbert’s lungs.
Thanks to Deputy Bragg’s swift and expert actions, Captain Hylbert’s condition stabilized before the arrival of emergency medical services but then worsened after the initial stabilization. Bossier City Fire Department personnel were forced to administer life saving measures on Captain Hylbert prior to him being transported to the hospital. The decisive application of lifesaving techniques by Deputy Bragg and the Bossier City Fire Department contributed significantly to Captain Hylbert’s survival during this critical time.
Upon being transported to the hospital, Captain Hylbert received further medical attention, and he is now on the road to recovery. The law enforcement community and the community in general are profoundly grateful for Deputy Bragg’s selfless and heroic efforts, which undoubtedly made a lifesaving difference in this harrowing incident.
Sheriff Julian Whittington, along with the entire Bossier Sheriff’s Office, commends Deputy Bragg for his exceptional response and his unwavering dedication to the safety and well-being of others. Sheriff Whittington stated, “Deputy Bragg’s heroic actions exemplify the highest standards of our law enforcement profession. His quick thinking and expert execution of lifesaving measures were instrumental in saving Captain Hylbert’s life. We are proud to have Deputy Bragg as part of our team, and his bravery serves as an inspiration to us all.”
In recognition of his extraordinary efforts, Deputy Bragg was honored at a ceremony at the Bossier Parish Courthouse where he was presented the Star of Valor award for his life-saving actions by Sheriff Whittington.
The Bossier Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to recognize the importance of CPR and basic lifesaving techniques, as demonstrated by Deputy Bragg. These vital skills can truly make a difference in emergencies and contribute to saving lives.
A Shreveport man accused of pornography involving juveniles pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court Monday, June 26, 2023 before District Judge Ramona Emanuel, who sentenced him to serve 10 years in prison.
Glenderek Merritt, 26, admitted to photographing, videotaping, filming, or otherwise reproducing visually sexual performances involving a child under the age of 17.
In addition to his hard-labor sentence, Merritt must register as a sex offender for 15 years upon his release.
Merritt was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brittany Arvie. He was defended by Katherine Ferguson.
The case was docket No. 390485.
Billy Cannon didn’t raise his arm and signal No. 1 as he neared the goalline, 89 yards later, on that Halloween night in 1959.
None of his 1958 teammates on the LSU football team pointed to their ring fingers in the waning moments of the regular-season finale, a 62-0 trashing of Tulane in New Orleans that confirmed those Tigers as national champions.
Now it’s in vogue. Joe Burrow coming off the field in the Superdome with Clemson subdued, pointing jubilantly at his ring finger. Burreaux was already Joe Cool in the eyes not only of LSU fans, but much of college football. It fit. He was kicking off the Natty celebration.
A couple of months ago in Dallas, Angel Reese spends the last seconds of LSU’s dismantling of Iowa pointing jubilantly at her ring finger. The Bayou Barbie long since had established her flamboyant on-court persona, delighting many LSU fans and plenty of avid women’s basketball followers. It fit. She was tipping off the national championship celebration.
Monday night in Omaha, having emphatically said “later, Gator,” Dylan Crews is the first of a series of Tiger teammtes savoring their late-game moments in the spotlight, pointing jubilantly at his ring finger. Crews, like Burrow, had just been annointed the premier player in his sport. Unlike Burrow, Crews has a subtle, blue-collar approach accompanying his prodigious production. His ring thing didn’t fit, but with a double-digit eighth-inning lead, not even Florida fans could protest his exuberance. He was launching the College World Series championship celebration.
Conversely, Reese drew heat from many, including some Purple and Gold loyalists, for her antics. She seemed to go toward Iowa star Caitlin Clark, taunting her in the waning moments of play. Clark later said she took no offense. To do so would have been hypocritical, since the Hawkeye hotshot had done much the same thing several times during the Big Ten season and notably to Louisville star (and now LSU’s own) Hailey Van Lith closing out an NCAA Elite 8 contest.
So in the aftermath of Monday’s grilling of the Gators in Omaha, LSU’s series of stars ringing it up quickly attracted the spotlight. The game’s ESPN telecast immediately referenced Reese, but overlooked Burrow, catching the oversight late in their coverage and in time for Scott Van Pelt’s SportsCenter show. The recovery surely was spurred by rampant social media posts showcasing Burrow along with Reese and Crews.
Very quickly on social media, the question arose – what’s the difference? Why is nobody objecting that Crews, Tommy White, Tre’ Morgan and more Tiger baseball heroes flashed their ring fingers, and a crescendo of critics rose up to rip Reese?
From some corners, there were undercurrents of racism, and sexism, at play. Reese is an effervescent personality who happens to be a Black woman. Undoubtedly some of the disgust stirred by her activity came from pigheaded people seeing someone of a different appearance doing something brash.
But her celebration was different because it certainly was directed at her opponent, Clark. You can’t get around the fact it was taunting. That’s the part that I didn’t like. The fact that it’s widespread nowadays to confront and mock foes doesn’t justify it.
Celebrate, yes. Be flamboyant, great. But don’t scurry to show up an opponent. Hurry to find a teammate to embrace. That’s how an AARP-eligible dude sees it.
If Reese had ignored Clark and trotted toward teammates pointing at her ring finger, it would be no less an iconic moment in the history of women’s basketball – not only in LSU lore, but for the sport overall.
I didn’t condemn Reese then and will not now. She’s only doing what she sees her heroes doing. She’s only doing what we’ve seen for years in pro wrestling and so much of modern culture outside of athletics. She’s a strong young woman, very smartly building her brand, and bringing in the Benjamins at a rate none of her predecessors in college women’s basketball ever could.
Was it spontaneous, or calculated for cash value? She’ll never tell. After the heat faded, it’s worked way in her favor. Reese’s fan base continues to expand. It should. She’s a special talent, a dynamic figure in her sport, whose persona not only entertains but inspires, and forces us to ponder our perspectives.
That’s not entirely comfortable. If you want to go down that rabbit hole, it’s there for your consideration.
But currently, I’ll just savor the jubilation and salute LSU’s champions. The rings fit.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com
By MATT VINES, LSUS Communications
A return to “fishing how we grew up.”
LSUS angler William Tew said that’s the tactic that he and partner Brayden Nichols employed late in the regular season as the pair logged three top-10 finishes.
They were part of a late-season surge that pushed the LSUS Bass Fishing team to place 15thin the final Bass Pro Shops School of the Year team rankings, the top Louisiana team and the sixth-best public university squad in the country.
“We went back to beating down the banks and stopped trying to be fancy,” said Tew, a Benton native. “We tried to go offshore and find schools of fish, but we got back to fishing how we grew up and throwing baits we’ve been throwing our whole lives.
“We stuck to one part of the lake in practice and learned it, and then fished it during the tournament.”
Points are earned based on where a team’s anglers place in individual tournaments, and LSUS earned half of its 26,400 points in the final month of the year-long season.
LSUS placed sixth in the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship in late May, placing two boats in the Top 25 (including the 10th-place Tew/Nichols in a field of 180).
“The fact we finished sixth on a lake that none of our guys have ever seen is huge,” said LSUS bass fishing coach Charles Thompson, who is finishing his third season at the helm. “For us to finish 15th in the country (in the season rankings) is a big deal – that’s the goal (top 15) we set for ourselves at the beginning.
“This is a program that’s been around since 2006 or 2007, but we’ve grown from four anglers since I got here to 20 anglers. And now these guys are juniors and seniors and experienced on the college stage.”
After Bryant Martin and Luke Batts placed 22nd overall on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell, they claimed the Louisiana BASS Nation College individual championship on Toledo Bend on June 10 to secure their place in the 2023 College Bass National Championship.
“It was all or nothing at that event, we had to win it to make the (national) championships,” Batts said. “We knew the fish were there – we just had to get to them.
“One thing that’s helped us is we’ve started to break down the lake as a team. We’ve been relying on each other and talking to each other after practice, finding pieces to the puzzle that will put us on top. We’re out to prove that you don’t have to be the biggest school or the one with the most financial leeway to win.”
Nichols/Tew and Martin/Batts will have LSUS company in the Bassmaster College National Championship as anglers Levi Thibodaux and Chance Shelby took fifth at the College Bass Wildcard on June 11.
Tripp Bowman and Matthew Nesbit claimed their championship spot a few weeks ago with a fourth-place spot in the Bassmaster College Series stop on the Red River.
A total of eight LSUS anglers in four boats will trek to the national championships on Aug. 10-12 on Pickwick Lake in Tennessee.
Martin said most of the team has fished Pickwick Lake before, but August provides an entirely different environment than when LSUS anglers launched onto Pickwick Lake in the fall.
“The time of year and temperatures are the biggest factor,” said Martin, whose nickname ‘Brother’ originated with his sister and has stuck as his primary name his entire life. “It’s hard to prepare without being over there to practice, but we’ll bring our summertime baits and practice more deepwater fishing.
“It means a lot to fish for LSUS because this team has worked so hard.”
There are no divisions in college fishing, and LSUS is punching significantly above its weight class. LSUS is one of four “small” public schools in the Top 25 with 4,000 students or less on campus.
There are a few “big boys” like No. 2 Auburn and No. 22 Tennessee, but many of the top teams are private colleges, like No. 24 East Texas Baptist.
Others are medium-sized public universities like North Alabama and Murray State (Ky.) that are near the epicenter of college bass fishing events in the Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama corridor. Champion Montevallo is a public liberal arts college in Alabama with about 2,000 students.
“Some of these programs at small private schools have anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 to travel to different tournaments,” Johnson said. “The more tournaments you fish, the more points you can score.
“We’re not going to be able to fish in 18 to 20 tournaments a year, but we thought the top 15 nationally was a reasonable goal given what our finances allow. We do have support from the local business community, and our goal is to continue to grow that.”
Along with growing community support, the popularity of high school fishing has made the local recruiting ground more fertile.
The LHSAA championships featured 66 boats with the majority of top finishers from the northern half of the state.
“Most anglers have been fishing since elementary school, but now they are focusing on bass fishing with the high school competition,” said Thompson, whose team has a heavy northwest Louisiana flavor. “It’s creating a recruiting field in which I don’t have to reach out to other parts of the country to find great anglers.”
And it’s not just a sport for males.
Men and women are eligible to compete, and the LSUS tandem of Marlee Churchman and Ty Gentry won the Major League Fishing Southern this past November on Lake O’ the Pines.
“If you put the time in, the fish don’t care what gender you are,” Thompson said. “This isn’t a strength or physique sport – it’s a knowledge-based dedication to the sport.
“It’s not an easy road for females because you might have to deal with some obnoxious guys, but I can tell you that Marlee is a respected member of this team. She does everything the guys do like drive the truck and pulls her weight in every way. As a daddy of girls, I support any co-ed opportunity for young ladies to push their way in.”
By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Northwood’s 2023 football schedule has the Falcons playing four of their seven District 1-4A games away from Jerry Burton Stadium, but one of the biggest of those district clashes comes at home against North DeSoto in the season finale.
The season starts with non-district home games against Benton and Wossman at Jerry Burton Stadium. A third and final non-district game has the Falcons traveling to Bossier City to face defending 1-5A champion Airline.
A bus ride to Independence Stadium to face Huntington kicks off the 1-4A season. The Raiders snapped a four-game loss skein to the Falcons last season in a series they lead 16-7. It was the only district loss the Falcons suffered last season.
Northwood returns home to entertain Bossier. The Falcons have won the last three and six of the last seven games but trail 19-14 in the overall series.
Trips to Evangel and Minden follow. The Falcons have won three of four meetings with the Eagles with all four games coming the past four season. The Crimson Tide has a slim 24-20 edge in the series with the Falcons winning the last three after losing the previous three.
A home game with Booker T. Washington is the first of the last three. Northwood has won the last six and 14 of the 20 in the series.
Woodlawn will host the Falcons at Independence Stadium in week nine. Northwood has won the last six of this series as well and holds an 18-8 advantage overall.
The season winds to a close with what has become a real grudge match with the district title on the line the previous three seasons. The Falcons handed the Griffins their only regular season loss last year 20-19 in Stonewall to finish as district co-champs. Northwood won the 2021 district championship with a 13-7 defeat of North DeSoto and knocked the Griffins out of the playoffs with a 19-9 defeat. North DeSoto claimed a 15-13 win for the 2020 1-4A crown.
2023 Northwood football schedule
Sept. 1 Benton
Sept. 8 Wossman
Sept. 15 at Airline
Sept. 22 at Huntington (Indy)
Sept. 29 Bossier
Oct. 6 at Evangel
Oct. 13 at Minden
Oct. 19 BTW
Oct. 27 at Woodlawn (Indy)
Nov. 2 North DeSoto
As a kid growing up in East Texas, my idea of sleeping in was getting up at 7 a.m.
At my house, there was no lying in bed till noon like some of my friends were able to do.
There was a yard to be mowed, a garden to rake, trash to take out and other chores that were required to live under the roof my mom and dad provided. Many a morning my bedroom light came on at 5 a.m., especially when there was work to be done on our ranch. One thing about growing up on a ranch — there’s always something to be done.
Whether we were fixing fences, building a barn, bailing hay or doctoring cattle, there was never a shortage of work. But most of the time, before my work began, my dad would let me take advantage of the early morning bite as I fished one of our many stocked ponds loaded with bass.
There’s nothing quite like getting up before daylight and getting on a body of water and throwing a topwater bait, anticipating that explosive bite. But no one wakes up like Mother Nature does, as the birds start to chirp, the deer ease out of the woods for an early-morning feed and the squirrels scurry through the trees looking for acorns.
As anglers, there are a lot of special moments that make you realize just how blessed we are. One of those is the daily sunrise which is a huge blessing for those of us who get to see and experience God’s awesome work first-hand. Making it even more special is hearing the national anthem before take-off on all our ABA Tournaments. It’s hard to describe the beauty and splendor of a rising sun as you head out onto a body of water anticipating a good early morning bite.
Even after all my many years of tournament take-offs, I still get chills as I sit in my boat and wonder, “How lucky am I?” It is truly a privilege that we, as anglers, get to do what we do. God has blessed me in so many ways with my health, my family and giving me the ability to enjoy His great outdoors.
If you want to experience what I get to enjoy so often, you must get up and get out of the bed. Whether you sit on your porch, in a bass boat or on a deer stand, watching a sunrise will have you feeling a calm like you’ve never felt before.
It’s that quiet time that we all crave from time to time. It’s that period of time where we plan our day and set our priorities. Some people like to read scripture, while others enjoy a good cup of coffee and a newspaper. But one thing is for certain, it just might be the most peaceful and gratifying time of the day.
‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and take the time to enjoy a sunrise.
Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com
That’s why the City of Shreveport Government along with SPAR will continue operating cooling centers. There is designated seating in each location. Stop by and get some relief from the heat. Don’t forget the SPAR Spraygrounds and pools are another great way to cool off and beat the heat. Find out more information at www.myspar.org.
Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority (LCCM) is a Political Action Committee comprised of business leaders and run by a board of business owners. Formerly known as the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority (LCRM), LCCM was formed in 2007 with the sole purpose of electing Republicans to the Louisiana Legislature to create a more business-friendly legislature. In 2018 the LCRM board voted to change its name to LCCM with a shift in mentality from electing Republicans to electing true Conservatives.
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Lonnie Smith
May 17, 1955 — June 18, 2023
Funeral Service: Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 10:00 a.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Tuesday, June 27, 2023, following service at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Aaron Brooks Lolley
July 21, 1978 — June 20, 2023
Memorial Service: Saturday, July 1, 2023, 2:00 p.m. at Forest Park Funeral Home, 1201 Louisiana Avenue, Shreveport.
Rudolph Bertsch
June 2, 1936 — June 16, 2023
Visitation: Saturday, July 8, 2023, 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home & Park, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, July 8, 2023, 4:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home & Park, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Howard Ratliff
March 14, 1949 — June 15, 2023
Funeral Service: Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport.
Dolores LaVigne
October 21, 1935 — May 7, 2023
Celebration of Life: Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at East Ridge Country Club, Shreveport.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $90. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com)