The CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System hosted its second annual Puzzles for Patients event benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Teams gathered to compete in a timed puzzle challenge, racing to complete 500-piece puzzles as quickly as possible. Local Children’s Miracle Network Champion Cade attended the event to cheer on participants.

Leah Goswick and Amy Hopkins claimed first place, completing their puzzle in 38 minutes. Second place honors went to Paige Cox and Carla Miley, followed by Allie Ross and Kaitlyn Nixon in third.

Event organizers expressed appreciation to Barksdale Federal Credit Union and Claire Williams for their sponsorship, as well as to all participants for their support. Proceeds from the event benefit Children’s Miracle Network and help provide care and resources for patients and families served by CHRISTUS.

John Robert Hartley Sr., 68, peacefully entered into eternal rest on Saturday, February 21, 2026. John was born on August 30, 1957, in Daytona Beach, Florida, to John Lawrence Hartley, Sr. and Evelyn Roberta Hart. His mother later remarried and his stepfather, Floyd Arneson, served in the United States Air Force. As a military family, they were stationed at McCoy Air Force Base in Orlando, Florida, before moving to Hahn Air Base in Germany in 1969. While overseas, John was a member of the Hahn Hawks football team, where he played center. The family later settled at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, where John made the Shreveport/Bossier area his lifelong home.

John graduated from Airline High School in 1975. Following graduation, he worked in restaurant management for several years before beginning a career insulating homes with Construction Insulators. He was a proud 25-year member of The Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana Free & Accepted Masons, Atkins Lodge No. 266. John was also a faithful member of Word of God Ministries and a supporter of the Jerusalem Prayer Team.

Above all, John was a devoted and beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He loved the Lord, praise and worship, football, and most of all, gathering with family and friends. He had a special gift for bringing people together around the table, especially when gumbo was on the menu. He was funny, strong-willed, and overflowing with love. Throughout his life, he fully embraced fatherhood and helped raise many children. He found his greatest purpose and joy in guiding and caring for every child who called him Dad, always pouring his heart into them.

He was preceded in death by his father, John L. Hartley, Sr.; his mother, Evelyn R. Hart Arneson; his sisters, Tina Miller and Lennie Shepherd (Charm); his son, Brett Parker; his granddaughter, Heaven Weed; and his great-grandson, Grayson Hartley.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Ivonne Tanod Hartley; his children, Chasity Weed and husband Bradley, John Hartley, Jr. (Bobby) and wife Michelle, Amanda Henderson and husband Tad, and Shelby Ewing and husband Joshua; his stepchildren, S. Virginia, Febryllian A. E., and Albern G. E.; his siblings, John Raymond, Brian, Pam, Bill, and John Lawrence, Jr.; grandchildren, Gage Hartley and wife Paige, Darren and Blake Schneider, Chase, Dustin, and Colten Parker, Kynli Ellis, Hayley Henderson, Jaxon Hartley, and Charlotte Chrysandra A.; and great-grandchildren, Isabella Fondren, Mackenzie Garrett, Kayden Hartley, Waylon Roth, Hayden, Hudson, and Hollis Parker.

A memorial service will be led by Pastor Donald Wright and held on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Waterloo #1 Baptist Church, 115 Old Highway 71, Elm Grove, Louisiana 71051. The family will host a Celebration of Life immediately following the service at the pavilion at Red River South Marina and Resort.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

December 10, 1929 — February 25, 2026

Marjorie Jean Kingdon Letsinger, age 96, of Keithville, Louisiana, passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

Marjorie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who cherished her family above all else. She loved life and enjoyed socializing with her church friends. Marjorie was very active in Christ United Methodist Church, where she built many lasting friendships. She and her husband, Dale, were known for their kindness and compassion, often visiting church friends in the hospital to offer comfort and support.

Marjorie had an infectious smile that brightened the lives of those around her. She enjoyed making jewelry, working puzzles and spending time with family and friends.

Marjorie resided at Cypress Point Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for the last three years, where she was cared for with kindness and compassion.

She was proceeded in death by her husband, Dale Letsinger.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons: Doug Letsinger and wife Kathy, Dan Letsinger and wife Janet, and David Letsinger and wife Brenda; her grandchildren: Darrin, Ashley, Diane, Kim and Rachel; and 12 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and nurse assistants of Cypress Point Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for all the love, kindness and care they showed Marjorie.

Marjorie’s life and legacy will live on through the many lives she touched and the family she loved so deeply.

“On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall…Then the king asked, ‘What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.’ ‘If it pleases the king,’ replied Esther…” Esther 5: 1a, 3-4a (NIV)

The evil prime minister of Persia was Haman, a man bound for impaling because, well, that’s what God decreed ahead of time when Haman, because of hatred sparked by pride, vowed to exterminate every last Jew in the land.

Yeah, uh, that’s going to be a “no” every time on Jew Extermination. Jesus would be born a Jew, and you don’t exterminate Jesus, prime minister of Persia or not.

For no reason other than jealousy and pride, Haman wanted one Jew killed especially, Mordecai. And while he was at it, why not the rest of the Jews too? Haman didn’t know Mordecai was the cousin of Esther, the king’s wife. He’ll find that out soon, on the same day the king has him killed.

To foil Haman’s plot, check out what Esther doesn’t do. She doesn’t panic. She doesn’t plot some sensational plan of revenge with the goal of making herself and Mordecai look good. She doesn’t have Haman assassinated.

Instead, let’s look now at what Esther does do. She decides to let the king handle it. And to do that, she prepares to meet the king.

She asks friends to pray and fast with her. She puts on her royal robes. With wisdom in timing and with humility, she allowed divine sovereignty to make a call that was not hers to make. Instead, she lived her role and let the king — and ultimately God — handle this monumental issue.

And He did. She turned things over to the king.

In God Calling, I read this last week: “Aim at killing the self now — in your daily life, and then, and not until then, you will find there is nothing that even remembers injury, because the only one injured, the self, is dead.” 

Do you know how many times I have tried to “get back” at people? I don’t know either, but it’s the same amount of times, exactly, that my plan backfired. The wrong we do to others, we do to ourselves. Haman finds that out too late, a fatal illustration of the old adage: pride goeth before an impaling.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third of Teddy’s five-part series all about Esther’s life and lessons that can be learned.)

Residents in Caddo Parish and Bossier Parish can expect warm temperatures and breezy conditions through midweek, followed by slightly cooler nights heading into the weekend.

Today will be mostly sunny with highs in the upper 60s. South winds will range from 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph.

Tonight will be partly cloudy and not as cool, with lows in the lower 50s. South winds will continue at 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday is expected to be mostly cloudy and windy, with highs climbing into the upper 70s. South winds will increase to 15 to 20 mph. Wednesday night will bring partly cloudy skies and lows in the lower 60s, with south winds at 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph.

Thursday will start mostly cloudy before becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon, with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs will remain in the upper 70s. Southwest winds at 5 to 10 mph will shift to the northwest later in the day. Thursday night will be partly cloudy and cooler, with lows dropping into the upper 40s.

Friday will be mostly sunny with highs in the mid 70s, followed by mostly clear skies Friday night and lows in the upper 40s.

Mostly sunny conditions are expected Saturday and Sunday, with highs in the upper 70s both days. Overnight lows will dip into the lower 50s under mostly clear to partly cloudy skies.

Monday will remain partly cloudy with highs again reaching the upper 70s.

The Walter B. Jacobs Nature Center will host its 19th annual Owl Night on Saturday, February 28, from 5 to 9 p.m. This free, family-friendly event offers an evening of exploration and education for visitors of all ages.

Attendees can experience live owl encounters, participate in owl-themed art activities, join guided night hikes, enjoy owl story time, and learn from presentations by the center’s naturalists. Complimentary hot chocolate and make-your-own s’mores will be available, along with local artists, vendors, and food trucks on site.

The event takes place at Walter B. Jacobs Nature Center, located at 8012 Blanchard Furrh Road, Shreveport. Families are encouraged to join for a night of nighttime discovery and fun.

As of Feb. 23 both Caddo and Bossier Parishes are under burn bans due to severe drought conditions and elevated wildfire risks.

In Caddo Parish, all outdoor burning is prohibited until further notice. The ban includes campfires, bonfires, fire pits, burn piles, and any other open flames. The National Weather Service recently upgraded Northwest Louisiana to severe drought conditions, and officials are urging residents to comply fully with the burn ban to protect lives, property, and emergency personnel.

Bossier Parish Fire Chiefs have also issued a burn ban for the entire parish, effective immediately. Elevated fire danger is expected parish-wide on Tuesday due to southwest winds around 15 mph, gusts up to 25 mph, and relative humidity levels below 25%. According to the Weekly U.S. Drought Monitor, the northern portion of the parish is classified as D2, Severe Drought, while the southern portion is D1, Moderate Drought. Dry ground and vegetation have significantly increased the risk of wildfire development. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry has advised that fire threat conditions are expected to remain high across the parish over the next three days.

Residents in both parishes should avoid any outdoor burning and exercise extreme caution with potential fire hazards until the bans are lifted.

Ever notice how quickly opinions travel faster than facts? This week’s cartoon plays with that idea, leaning into the humor of how we debate, react and sometimes overreact in the digital age. Inspired by the game-show energy of Jeopardy!, it’s a lighthearted reminder that not every buzzer needs to be hit — and sometimes it’s okay to wait for the full answer.

ShrevePride has announced it will take a break in 2026 after seven years of organizing and celebrating the local LGBTQIA+ community.

In a public statement shared this week, the organization said the decision followed months of reflection, describing the pause as a time to rest and recharge after years of volunteer-led work. As a result, signature events including Field Gay and Q-Prom will not be held in 2026.

Organizers emphasized that the break is not a retreat, but a period of transition and growth. While large-scale events will pause, the group said it will continue supporting the community in other ways throughout the year and will cheer on efforts that uplift LGBTQIA+ individuals across the region.

Quoting writer and activist Audre Lorde, the group shared: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and this is an act of political warfare.”

ShrevePride expressed appreciation for community support and patience, noting that messages will be answered as the team works to catch up. The organization plans to return in 2027 with renewed energy, clarity, and purpose.

JOURNAL SPORTS

Nine Class of 2026 high school scholar-athletes from north and central Louisiana are winners of $1,000 college scholarships from The National Football Foundation, S.M. McNaughton Chapter to be presented next Wednesday, March 4 in Shreveport.

The scholarship recipients exceeded standards for the annual scholarship grants including a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better, earning at least all-district honors on the football field, and extracurricular involvement.

The winners include four standouts from Caddo and Bossier parishes: Jeremiah Epps of Airline, Loyola’s Hayden Horton, Luke Miller of Calvary Baptist, and Northwood’s Justin Thomas.

The other NFF scholarship winners are Ty Curtis of Buckeye, Luke Delafield of North DeSoto, West Monroe’s Hunter Fox, Micah Moser of Ouachita Christian School and North Webster’s Hudson Smith.

Six – Curtis, Delafield, Horton, Hudson, Moser, and Thomas – earned All-State honors as seniors. Smith carried a perfect 4.0 GPA and several others were close to academic perfection.

One of the nine student-athletes will be recognized as the McNaughton Chapter’s nominee for the National Football Foundation’s nationwide scholar-athlete of the year honor, and will be spotlighted for the 2026-27 year in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Another of the student-athletes will be recognized as the KTBS/Griffin’s Game Ball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The winner and 13 other outstanding 2025 seniors were spotlighted during the season on Tuesday segments on the KTBS 6 and 10 p.m. sportscasts and on the station’s award-winning Johnny’s Pizza House Friday Football Fever weekly highlight show. The honor pays tribute to the late, longtime NFF McNaughton Chapter board member Bob Griffin, who finished his lengthy and accomplished TV career at KTBS.

McNaughton Chapter president Toni Goodin said the winners and other special awards will be recognized next Wednesday at the annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet at East Ridge Country Club in Shreveport. Doors open at 6 with dinner served about a half-hour later.

“These nine young men are tremendous representatives of-all the high school football teams in North Louisiana, and especially their teams, their schools and communities,” said Goodin. “They have been remarkable examples of academic and athletic excellence along with service and involvement in extracurricular activities.”

The McNaughton Chapter has awarded scholarships to senior scholar-athletes since 1981. A Coach of the Year Award has been presented occasionally in the past two decades and will be announced later this week, along with the winners of the annual Contributions to Amateur Football Award and Distinguished American Award.

Tickets are $45 each. Tables seat eight and are $360. Proceeds go to support the scholarships awarded.

For individual tickets and table sales, contact Goodin at 318nffchapter@gmail.com or by calling 318-347-4453.

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JOURNAL SPORTS

Top-seeded in both brackets, the Red River Athletic Conference regular-season champion LSU Shreveport basketball teams delivered dominant performances Tuesday night at The Dock in the RRAC tournament quarterfinals.

The LSUS women posted an 84-41 romp over Our Lady of the Lake. The men followed with a resounding 108-86 win over Texas A&M-San Antonio.

WOMEN: After opening a 23-4 first quarter lead, the Pilots shot 54.8 percent overall (34-of-62) from the floor and held OLLU to just 21.4 percent (12-of-56). The defensive pressure forced 24 Saints turnovers, which LSUS converted into 34 points.

Selma Markisic led all scorers with 25 points. Paula Gonzalez Herrero added 14, while Toni Coleman recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds and added five assists. Katie Ambrose finished with 10 points.

Amandine L’Etang broke the LSUS single-season blocks record, getting five blocks to bring her season total to 73.

The Pilots outscored the Saints 50-12 in the paint and 19-4 in fastbreak points. LSUS built its largest lead of 46 points midway through the fourth quarter before emptying the bench.

The Pilots, 25-4,  advance to Alexandria for the semifinal round on Saturday at Rapides Parish Coliseum. LSUS will face the winner of tonight’s game between No. 5 seed LSU Alexandria and No. 4 seed Xavier.

MEN:  The Pilots improved to 24-5 after shooting a blistering 65.6 percent from the field, scoring 56 points in the paint.

Hayden Brittingham led all scorers with 29 points to go along with eight assists. Emareyon McDonald contributed 22 points, while Alexzaye Johnson added 18 points, seven assists, and four steals. Khi Wallace anchored the interior with 14 points and eight rebounds.

The Pilots assisted on 24 of their 40 made field goals. LSUS built its largest lead of 24 late in the second half.

LSUS advances to the RRAC semifinals and will face Texas A&M-Texarkana on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Alexandria.

BOSSIER PARISH HOME TONIGHT, SATURDAY:  BPCC plays its last two home games this week in coach Jeff Moore’s first season, beginning tonight at 7 at Billy Montgomery Gym when it hosts Lamar State College-Port Arthur. The Cavaliers celebrate Sophomore Day on Saturday at 4 against Blinn College as they honor their second-year players.

The Cavs had a rough day last Saturday in a surprising 62-33 loss at Angelina College.

“It was probably the worst shooting night of the season for our team — we couldn’t get anything to fall,” Moore said. “Defensively, I thought we played pretty well but couldn’t overcome our shooting woes.”

The Cavaliers shot 28 percent from the field overall and 17 percent from three-point range. Zequan Lewis led BPCC with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

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By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Assistant AD for Communications

As the Centenary men’s basketball team prepares for the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament this weekend in Conway, Ark., there’s early-season SCAC action at home in baseball.

BASEBALL: The Diamond Gents (5-7, 0-3 SCAC) return to conference play this weekend as they welcome the Concordia University Tornados (6-1, 5-1 SCAC) to town for a three-game series beginning on Friday with first pitch set for 6 at Shehee Stadium.

The series wraps up on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1. 

Centenary will play at home for just the second time this season after a 12-2 blowout victory over Millsaps College on Feb. 17. Concordia has played all seven games at home this season and will make its road debut this weekend.

The Diamond Gents split a four-game series against the George Fox University Bruins last weekend in Newberg, Ore.

Centenary, who was swept at Schreiner earlier this month to begin league play, was picked to finish sixth in the SCAC Preseason poll this season.

Concordia, which advanced to the NCAA regional final a season ago after finishing runner-up at the SCAC Tournament Championship, was the preseason league champion selection this season. The Tornados totaled eight first-place votes to top the coaches’ poll with 116 points.  

GYMNASTICS: The Ladies will host their final home meet of the season Friday, March 6 versus Fisk and Wilberforce in the Gold Dome. It will be Senior Night.

Last weekend, Centenary posted a team score of 187.675 on Sunday afternoon to finish second against the host University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves in a non-conference dual meet inside the Alaska Airlines Center.

The teams were meeting for the second time during the weekend after they first squared off on Friday night when Centenary posted a 188.125. This weekend marked the Ladies’ first visit to Anchorage since the 2022 season.

Centenary’s best event score on Sunday came on vault (47.625) and its top score on Friday was on floor (47.825).

Freshman Leila Dunlavy is this week’s recipient of the Coaches’ Choice Award, the Midwest Independent Conference announced. 

Dunlavy earned one of the four individual honors that the conference chooses on a weekly basis and received it for the first time in her career.

Saturday, sophomore Skyla Cruz finished second on beam with a 9.75 and sophomore Chloe Gilbert had a season-high 9.70 to tie for third.

Senior Amy Foret and junior Olivia Williams tied for third on floor (9.575) and senior Olivia Stratmann had a season-high 9.525 on bars to finish third.

Sophomore Anna Ichiba led the way on vault for the Ladies with a 9.60 to finish fifth.

Sunday, Dunlavy had a season-best 9.625 on vault to finish second, and senior Amy Foret finished fourth with a 9.575

Skyla Cruz had a 9.70 on beam, her second-highest score of the season, to finish third and Amy Foret tied for fourth place with a 9.675 to tie her season high set last week.

Amy Foret and Olivia Williams tied for second place on floor (9.70), and Anna Ichiba was fifth with a season-high 9.60.

Olivia Stratmann had a season-high 9.50 on bars to finish fifth and led the Ladies in the event. 

WOMEN’S GOLF: The Ladies shot a 213-over par 789 to finish eighth in the Crusader Cup hosted by the University of Dallas as they began their spring season at Hackberry Creek Country Club in Irving, Texas.

The Ladies, who shot a 112-over par 400 in Monday’s opening round, lowered their score by 11 strokes on Tuesday as they shot a 101-over 389 in Tuesday’s final round.

Sophomore Haylee Crowder, a former Haughton HS star,  led the Ladies with a tie for 13^th place (90-88 – 178) and sophomore Amber Shaw tied for 18^th place (90-91 – 181).

Junior Jordyn Templeton tied for 25^th (95-95 –190) and freshman Zoe Garcia finished 45^th in her season debut (125-115 – 240).

The Ladies will play host to their annual home tournament, the Hal Sutton Invitational, March 16-17 at The Golf Club at Stonebridge in Bossier City.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: The Ladies lost 80-41 to the University of St. Thomas Celts last Sunday afternoon in a SCAC contest in Houston that was the Ladies’ season finale. The Ladies finish 3-22 overall and 2-14 in SCAC play.

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

Note – an editing mistake placing the gymnastics meet on this Friday appeared earlier. The last home meet is NEXT Friday, March 6. 

When you’re young and full of pee and vinegar, you think you’re bullet proof. You have a younger mindset that nothing can happen to you. But nothing could be further from the truth. For an angler, or anyone who spends a great deal of time in the outdoors, there are three words you never want to hear, “You have Melanoma.”

This is the number one form of cancer that takes more lives than any other. Like so many others, I thought something like this would never happen to me. But God had other plans as that day came for me in June of 2023. Never in a million years did I think I would be that guy who would have to battle cancer, but here’s my story.

A couple of years earlier I started seeing a dermatologist on a regular basis. Then one day while my sister-in-law was cutting my hair, she asked if I knew about this small black dot on the back of my ear. Since none of us can see the back of our ears, I had never seen this spot. She suggested I get it looked at, so I took her advice and made an appointment.

It was March of 2023 when I had this appointment, and my dermatologist suggested we try some chemo cream to help get rid of this spot. Well, after two weeks of chemo cream the spot went away. I thought my worries were over until mid-April when the spot returned. So once again, I made another appointment scheduled for the first week of May.

While I wasn’t overly concerned, we were planning a family vacation to Disney World the last week of May and I wanted this spot off my ear. But as fate would have it, my dermatologist had to go out of town to attend a convention, and my May appointment was cancelled. So, they rebooked me for the last week of June which was basically eight weeks.

Again, at this point, I’m still not overly concerned but really wanted this off my ear. Well, let’s just say when I returned for my appointment the last week of June, this spot had ulcerated and was now a deep purple color. Then the day of my appointment, the minute I was called to the back, the nurse took a look at my ear, and she instantly got very concerned and rushed out of the room to get my dermatologist.

This got my attention and now I’m nervous as my doctor walked in and said, “Oh, Steve this is not good, and I’ll go ahead and prepare you that this is probably going to come back positive for Melanoma.”

She biopsied the spot and overnighted it to a lab for testing. The next day around 10 that morning, she called and told me, “You have Melanoma.” My heart sank and I was a little overwhelmed and wasn’t sure what to think. But my dermatologist did an outstanding job of reassuring me that everything will be OK, as hopefully we’ve caught this early.

To shorten this story, I had two ear surgeries to remove the upper portion of my left ear and four difficult immunotherapy sessions that were hard to get through due to my reaction to the drug OPDIVO. But since then, all of my scans have been clear and bloodwork has been good.

Immediately I started the first year going to M.D. Anderson in Houston every three months. Then in late 2025, they scheduled me for testing every six months which is where I’m at today. Hopefully, if my PET scans, MRI’s and bloodwork continue to be clear, I’ll soon be moving to testing annually for the rest of my life.

The one thing my cancer doctor has told me is that Melanoma is the worst form of cancer that can hide in the body for long periods of time. It can come back at any point and that’s why I’ll continue to go back to M.D. Anderson from now on.

Here’s my advice to anyone (especially anglers) when it comes to protecting yourself from the harmful rays of the sun. First, understand this: Melanoma does not discriminate, and no one is immune to getting this form of cancer. Wear long sleeve SPF shirts with built-in sunscreen. Wear long pants instead of shorts to protect your legs. Wear a wide brim hat — even if you look goofy. I also wear fishing gloves to help protect my hands.

Always apply sunscreen to any portion of the skin that might be exposed. Do everything you can to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Because the words you never want to hear are, “You have Melanoma.”

About Ida

Beginnings are tricky, but here we are—fresh page, blinking cursor, and a head full of questions. I’m Ida B. Torn, a lifelong Southerner from Kenner, Louisiana, who’s spent years working in newsrooms, design studios, and public service. I’ve seen my share of life’s chaos and comedy—and learned that sometimes, folks just need straight answers and a little laughter along the way.

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February 25 marks the birthday of Nina Simone, an artist whose music blurred the lines between entertainment, activism, and cultural revolution. Born in 1933, Simone became one of the most uncompromising voices of the Civil Rights era, using her platform to challenge injustice while reshaping the sound of American music.

Trained as a classical pianist, Simone defied expectations by blending jazz, blues, folk, gospel, and classical influences into a style uniquely her own. Her performances were emotionally raw and politically charged, reflecting both personal struggle and collective Black experience. Songs like “Mississippi Goddam” and “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” became anthems of resistance and pride.

Unlike many artists of her time, Simone refused to separate art from politics. Her willingness to address racism directly often made her controversial, but it also cemented her place as a cultural truth-teller. February 25 serves as a reminder of how her music functioned not just as entertainment, but as commentary on American life.

Simone’s influence on pop culture has only grown over time. Her music has been sampled and referenced by modern artists across genres, from hip-hop to indie pop. Filmmakers and television creators frequently use her songs to underscore moments of tension, empowerment, or historical reflection, introducing her voice to audiences far removed from the 1960s.

Beyond her music, Simone’s image and persona have become cultural symbols. Her unapologetic authenticity and refusal to conform resonate strongly in today’s conversations about artistic freedom and racial justice. Documentaries, biopics, and streaming playlists have renewed interest in her life, prompting deeper discussions about how Black women artists are treated by the industry.

February 25 also invites reflection on Simone’s complicated legacy. Her life was marked by brilliance, struggle, and resistance — elements that mirror the broader Black American experience she so often sang about. Today, she is widely recognized not only as a musical innovator but as a cultural icon who spoke truths others feared to voice.

As Black History Month nears its close, Nina Simone’s birthday serves as a powerful reminder that pop culture can be a force for change — and that music can carry the weight of history.

I did not put my sense of humor away for Lent. Honestly, I’m not sure I could if I tried. My sense of humor has a mind of its own and occasionally needs to be told, “Hush now, we’re in church.” I once preached a funeral with the “Exit” sign burned out over the doors we’d be leaving through. My brain, unhelpfully, started processing the symbolism — we all exit eventually — and before I knew it, my mouth was dangerously close to sharing that observation with the grieving family. That’s when I realized: for Lent, I may fast from many things, but my sense of humor is apparently not one of them.

And speaking of Lent, that little moment of funeral foolishness reminded me how this season always brings out our quirks, our questions, and our wellintentioned attempts at spiritual discipline. Many congregations observe Lenten practices, and you can usually spot us by the annual question: “So… what are you giving up for Lent?” Some of my Roman Catholic friends give up meat on Fridays, which has sparked many a conversation — and, fun fact, is the reason McDonald’s invented the fish sandwich. Stick with these Ponderings long enough and you’ll be ready for Jeopardy!

Which brings me to one of my favorite Lenten stories.

John Smith was the only Protestant to move into a large Catholic neighborhood. On the first Friday of Lent, John was outside grilling a big, juicy steak. Meanwhile, all his neighbors were dutifully eating cold tuna fish. This went on every Friday. Finally, the Catholic men decided something had to be done — John was tempting them beyond what any human should endure.

So they set out to convert him.

They talked with him, brought him to church, and the priest sprinkled water over him saying, “You were born a Baptist, you were raised a Baptist, and now you are a Catholic.” The men rejoiced. Their Lenten temptations were over.

Until the next year.

The first Friday of Lent rolled around, and just as the neighborhood sat down to their tuna, the unmistakable aroma of steak drifted through the air. They rushed to John’s yard, ready to remind him of his new commitments.

And there he stood, sprinkling water over his steak, saying, “You were born a cow, you were raised a cow, and now you are a fish.”

It’s funny — and it’s also a gentle reminder. It’s not what our neighbors call us that defines us. It’s not even what we call ourselves. Our actions, our habits, our quiet choices — those speak louder than our reputations or our labels.

Lent invites us into that quieter truth. Not the showy kind, not the “look what I’m giving up” kind, but the kind that shapes us from the inside out.

This Lent is Jesus shaping your heart and your journey to Easter?

Jeffrey William Wellborn, 67, a resident of Shreveport, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 20, 2026, surrounded by family following a courageous battle with cancer. Jeff was a devoted husband, a loving father, a coach and friend to many.

Jeff was born on March 25, 1958, in Dallas, Texas. He graduated from Parkway High School in 1976 and Louisiana State University Shreveport in 1983. Jeff was preceded in death by his father, James Quillan Wellborn. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Guin Wellborn, their daughter, Madeline Renee Wellborn, and their son, William Jordan Wellborn; his mother Lola Nan “Nanny” Wellborn, his brother James Guy Wellborn (Kim) and their children Chelsea Hampton Heredia (Chris) and Ryan Wellborn (Dena) and sister Louann Wellborn McHalffey (Stacy) and their children Casy McHalffey Leatherman (Levy), Coy McHalffey and Jamie McHalffey Richardson (Patrick); his mother-in-law, Martha Louise DeSoto, his sister-in-law Phyllis Guin Cancienne (Sam) and their children Samuel Paul Cancienne Jr (Emory) and Renee Elizabeth Cancienne.
Jeff leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and family. He had a wry sense of humor and dry wit. His many hobbies and interests helped define who he was. He enjoyed cooking, cycling, camping and nature. Jeff loved playing sports, especially basketball and volleyball, and coaching youth soccer. He volunteered for many years at local triathlons. Jeff was an avid reader, an outspoken community activist and environmentalist.

A celebration of life service will be held at Shreveport Yacht Club on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the local YMCA, Christian Services, Catholic Charities of North Louisiana or a non-profit of your choice.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. John Davis, Dr. Scott Howard and the ICU nursing staff at Willis Knighton Pierremont.Enter the first part of your article here…

A funeral service for Nellie Spear Martin Lockhart, 88, will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Haughton, 105 E Washington Ave, Haughton, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Haughton Cemetery in Haughton. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Officiating the service will be Pastor Gevan Spinney.

Nellie was born on May 5, 1937, to Allen L. Spear and Elma Martin Spear in Coushatta, Louisiana, and passed away on Friday, February 20, 2026, in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Nellie attended C.E. Byrd High School and stepped into adulthood early, marrying at seventeen and becoming a mother at eighteen. Before they married, she and Thomas met while taking square‑dancing lessons, quickly becoming dance partners and forming a bond that grew into a lifelong partnership. She went on to raise five children, balancing the demands of a young family with a work ethic that never wavered. In her early years, she worked as a cashier at Brookshire’s and later opened her home to the community by running her own personal day care in Shreveport for ten years.

In 1977, she moved to Princeton and settled next door to her parents, where she lovingly helped care for them until their passing. Afterward, she began a new chapter as a Pest Control Technician with Bagwell Pest Control in Bossier City. Determined to build something of her own, she studied, tested, and earned her Louisiana state license in 1985. From that achievement, she created Nell’s Pest Control, a business she developed, managed, and poured her heart into from 1989 until her retirement in 2015. After 26 years of service, she proudly passed the business on to her daughters, Vanessa and Kimberly, who had worked alongside her for many years.

Outside of work, Nellie found joy in the simple, grounding things of life. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed long walks, vegetable gardening, and tending to her flowers. She and her first husband, Thomas, raised chickens together, sharing fresh eggs with friends and family. She played Pokeno for years with groups of ladies in the Haughton area, and she delighted in traveling, especially the unforgettable road trip across America with three close friends. She also enjoyed church choir trips and outings with Brother Scottie to places like Branson. Her faith was central to her life; she rededicated herself on October 4, 2005, during a revival service at Haughton Baptist, where she found renewed assurance of her salvation. She served as a caretaker not only for her parents but also for her brother, Norris Spear.

Her heart for service extended into the community as she helped prepare and distribute food boxes for needy families through The Action Committee of Haughton. She loved attending church, was active in her Ladies Dorcas Life Group, served on social committees, and faithfully reached out to members with phone calls. At home, she found comfort listening to Billy Graham’s preaching on television, a steady reminder of the faith that guided her life.

Nellie’s story is one of resilience, devotion, and quiet strength. She built a life defined by hard work, service, and love, leaving behind a legacy carried forward by her family, her community, and the many people whose lives she touched.

Nellie was preceded in death by her parents, Allen and Elma Spear; her husbands, Glen Martin and Thomas Lockhart; her sisters, Ola Mae Spear, Bernice Hester, and Leona Hill; and her brothers, Ray, Wesley, Norris, and Buck Spear. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Sherry Roberson and husband, Wayne, Vanessa Keith and husband, John, and Tracy Wells and husband, Marty, and her son, Michael Martin and wife, Vickie. She is also survived by her granddaughters, Catherine Troquille, Jessica Collins, Ashley Bilbrey, and Alexis Haynes; her grandsons, Johnny Keith, Hunter Wells, and Cameron Wells; her great‑grandchildren, Christian and Cullen Keith, Kaylea and Maverick Collins, and Everly Bilbrey; and her step‑daughters, Sondra Lockhart, Rhonda Foster and husband, Mike, and Heather Clot.

Honoring Nellie as pallbearers will be Johnny Keith, Christian Keith, Cullen Keith, Hunter Wells, Chad Troquille, Chris Carter, and Buck McGee. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Barbo and Jim Schultz.

The family would like to give thanks to the employees at Cypress Pointe Nursing Center for their care of Mom during her almost 4-week stay with them. A special thanks to Barbara, Nikki, Chaplin Jim, and others with Lifepath Hospice Care who gave mom such comforting care and reassuring support to children & family.

Amazon has announced plans to invest $12 billion to build new data center campuses in Caddo and Bossier Parishes, marking the company’s first data center operations in Louisiana.

The project will be built across multiple connected sites on both sides of the Red River and is designed to support cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies used by customers nationwide. Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with operations launching in phases over the next several years.

The investment is expected to create 540 direct, on-site jobs. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will also generate an additional 1,700 indirect jobs in the Northwest Region, including positions with suppliers, service providers and other businesses that support the campuses.

Amazon is partnering with STACK Infrastructure to develop and construct the facilities. STACK estimates the project could support up to 1,500 construction jobs, creating opportunities for local contractors and skilled trades workers.

State and regional leaders say the project is expected to generate significant new tax revenue for Caddo and Bossier Parishes, helping fund public services, schools and infrastructure improvements.

Amazon officials said the company worked with Southwestern Electric Power Company to ensure it will cover 100 percent of the costs tied to new energy infrastructure and upgrades required to serve the data centers. Company representatives say those upgrades are also expected to strengthen overall grid reliability for other customers.

The announcement adds to Amazon’s existing footprint in Louisiana. From 2010 to 2024, the company invested more than $4.7 billion statewide, operating fulfillment and sortation centers, delivery stations, Whole Foods Market locations and solar energy projects.

To secure the project, Louisiana offered Amazon an incentives package that includes workforce development support through LED FastStart, along with participation in the state’s High Impact Jobs and Data Center Sales Tax Exemption programs.

Regional economic development leaders described the investment as a major win for northwest Louisiana, emphasizing collaboration between Caddo and Bossier Parishes in landing the project.