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Today, Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington presented Carson Bryant of Benton High School with an academic scholarship through the Louisiana Sheriff’s Scholarship Program.

Bryant, a Benton resident, attends Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, where he is pursue a degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. He is the son of Kyle and Kirstian Bryant.

The scholarship is funded through the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program, which provides scholarships to graduating seniors in parishes where the local sheriff participates in the program. Recipients are selected based on academic performance, leadership and character.

Sheriff Whittington said, “Carson has demonstrated a strong commitment to his education and his future, and we are proud to support him as he takes this next step. Investing in students like Carson is an investment in the future of our state.”

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office congratulates Carson on this well-deserved scholarship and wishes him continued success at Louisiana Tech!

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Two members of Bossier Parish Fire District #1 attended Trench Rescue Technician training last week, hosted by the Louisiana Fire & Emergency Training Academy.

Training Captain Jeffrey Hardy and Senior Firefighter Christopher Long spent the week learning and developing specialized skills needed to safely and effectively respond to a trench rescue incident.

Trench rescues are complex and extremely hazardous incidents that require specialized training, equipment and teamwork.

Bossier Parish Fire District #1 said it is proud of the firefighters’ commitment to continuing their education and expanding their skill sets to better serve the community.

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Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office announce with profound sadness the sudden passing of Captain David Latron Robinson, who died on September 29, 2026.

Captain Robinson dedicated over 30 years of faithful service to the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Caddo Parish. At the time of his passing, he served as Captain of Investigations, where his experience, leadership, and commitment to public service were invaluable to the Sheriff’s Office.

Throughout his distinguished career, Captain Robinson earned the respect of his fellow deputies, colleagues, and community members. He was not only known for his professionalism and dedication to law enforcement, but also for the compassion, guidance, and friendship he extended to those around him.

“Captain Robinson was more than a colleague; he was a mentor, a friend, and a source of strength for those who had the privilege of working alongside him,” Sheriff Whitehorn said. “For more than three decades, David dedicated himself to protecting and serving the people of Caddo Parish. His leadership, character, and commitment to this community leave a lasting legacy that will not be forgotten.”

Sheriff Whitehorn added, “Today, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office family mourns alongside Captain Robinson’s loved ones. His absence will be deeply felt throughout our ranks and by the many people whose lives he touched. We ask the citizens of Caddo Parish to join us in keeping his family, friends, and fellow deputies in their thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”

Captain Robinson’s more than three decades of service stand as a testament to his dedication to law enforcement and the community he proudly served.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office respectfully requests that the Robinson family’s privacy be honored as they grieve this tremendous loss.

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Tre’veon Jackson Appears in Federal Court; Remains Behind Bars on $4 Million in Bonds
U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana

Escaped Caddo Correctional Center inmate Tre’veon Jackson, 24, appeared in federal court Tuesday and will remain in federal custody. Jackson faces a federal carjacking charge in connection with his escape from Caddo Parish deputy custody on Sept. 14 — when he allegedly violently assaulted a hotel worker at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City and stole his vehicle before leading police on a high-speed chase. Combined bonds across Jackson’s pending cases total more than $4 million. He is currently being held at the Bossier Maximum Security Jail in Plain Dealing. His federal arraignment is set for October. Jackson is also pending sentencing in Caddo District Court as a habitual offender following a 2025 armed robbery conviction and faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in separate open cases.

CPSO Rewrites Inmate Transport Policy Following Jackson Escape
Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office

Documents obtained from the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office reveal the agency has rewritten its inmate transport policy following an internal affairs investigation into Tre’veon Jackson’s Sept. 14 escape. The investigation found Jackson’s restraints were not properly verified, required searches were not completed, and deputies lost visual control of him at the transport site outside Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. The new policy requires two deputies for all transport of inmates classified as escape risks. The CPSO has not publicly released the name of the transporting deputy. The reforms follow Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr.’s public statement on Sept. 22 accepting full responsibility for the security failures.

Final Reminder: Louisiana Voter Registration Deadline Is Sunday, October 4
Louisiana Secretary of State

Sunday, October 4 is the last day to register to vote in Louisiana’s November 3 general election — just four days away. Caddo and Bossier parish voters will decide the Shreveport mayor’s race, school board seats, judgeships, and the Caddo Parish $60 million sports complex bond proposition. Register online at GeauxVote.com, in person at the Caddo Parish Registrar of Voters at 525 Marshall St. in Shreveport, or at any Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles location before Sunday’s deadline.

Shreve Memorial Library Kicks Off One Book One Parish October with Author Talks, Lectures
Shreve Memorial Library

Shreve Memorial Library launches its 2026 One Book One Parish campaign Thursday, with patron-selected Yellow September: A Louisiana Love Story of Pestilence and Perseverance by Shannon Terry Wiley as this year’s title. The debut novel chronicles Shreveport’s devastating September 1873 yellow fever outbreak, which killed more than a thousand people, weaving fictional storylines with real history. Events run throughout October and are free with no registration required. Author Shannon Terry Wiley will speak Thursday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. at the North Shreveport Branch, 4844 North Market St.; Oct. 8 at noon at Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch; Oct. 9 at 11 a.m. at West Shreveport Branch; and Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. at Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch. Guest lectures: Dr. Gary Joiner speaks Monday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. at Broadmoor Branch, 1212 Captain Shreve Drive; Dr. Cheryl White speaks Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. at Hamilton/South Caddo Branch, 2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop. Book club discussions run Oct. 13-30 at branches across Caddo Parish. Copies are available at any branch. More at shreve-lib.org.





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Caddo and Bossier parishes will see partly cloudy and hot conditions Wednesday, followed by increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms Thursday night through the weekend. Temperatures are expected to fall into the upper 70s by Monday.

Wednesday will be partly cloudy with highs in the mid 90s and south winds of 10 to 15 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly cloudy in the evening before clearing, with lows in the lower 70s and southeast winds of 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs will be in the lower 90s, with south winds of 5 to 10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of showers. Lows will be in the lower 70s.

Friday will bring showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs will be in the upper 80s, with a 70% chance of rain. Friday night will bring a chance of thunderstorms and showers likely, mainly in the evening. Lows will be in the upper 60s, with a 70% chance of rain.

Saturday will have showers likely in the morning, followed by showers likely with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs will be in the lower 80s, with a 70% chance of rain. Saturday night will bring a slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, followed by mostly cloudy conditions and a chance of showers. Lows will be in the mid 60s, with a 50% chance of rain.

Sunday will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs will be in the upper 70s, with a 50% chance of rain. Sunday night will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the evening. Lows will be in the lower 60s, with a 20% chance of rain.

Monday will be partly cloudy with highs in the upper 70s.

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She woke in the middle of the night and asked the nursing home attendant to get her two chairs.

“I’ve got company coming,” she told the nurse.

Mrs. Verna lived 89 years. One of nine children, she left her home in DeSoto Parish in the ’20s for college, met an oilfield worker, quit school, and had three children.

The family moved to 410 Jefferson St. in Mansfield in the mid-30s, and there she lived for 60 years. Her husband didn’t live there long at all. She bought his half of the house for about $300 and raised the children herself, and that’s hard today but they tell me it was harder in the ’30s and ’40s for a woman with half a college education and no car.

Sewing and cutting hair and working as a sales lady and loving her children hard, she got the babies raised. She never got the car. No telling how many times she walked to town, to work, to the grocery store. No telling how many times one of her many friends passed by and gave her a ride.

They sang her praises Saturday morning in Beulah Baptist Church, a church at its core unchanged since she walked the aisle there as a little girl. It has aluminum siding now. Beige shag. But it’s still the same. Fifteen or so pews deep. Plate-glass windows, stained red. Still small, still a pulpit front and center. Behind that a cozy choir loft, behind that a baptistry, and behind that a painting of a river, peaceful and blue, its banks alive and green.

Not long ago she visited the new funeral home in town. She didn’t like it. “This isn’t home,” she told her daughter. “I want to go home.”

So back to Beulah Baptist, back home, surrounded by pines and off an unstriped road in the Lula Community, friends and children and grandchildren came to say goodbye.

How Great Thou Art. Amazing Grace. It Is Well With My Soul. Quietly in the packed little church the music blended in the air and settled over her friends and the truth of it all set in. Perfect songs for the moment, for more reasons than one. “Part of Mama’s orders,” her daughter said, and everyone chuckled and grinned and some exchanged smiling glances, there at the funeral for Mrs. Verna.

She was tougher than a little bit because she had to be. Maybe a little bossy. When her grandsons cleaned her home the day she moved to the nursing home, they found a pair of slingshots. She’d given them to two grandboys one day, but when a window was shattered, she confiscated them. Didn’t throw them away, though; maybe she was planning on giving the boys their slingshots back.

“I guess,” said a guilty grandson, “that 38 years of punishment is enough.”

More smiles at the funeral.

Tough she was. And so the boys were surprised that day cleaning her home when they found some letters from her college days and references to their grandmama as “Possum,” a class clown, a cutup, always into something, always good company.

And so, under the blue autumn sky on a Saturday morning, grandsons placed boutonnieres on her casket and walked back out through the gate of the little cemetery by the church. They said goodbye to their grandmama, who was busy elsewhere, busy saying hello.

Her company had come.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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There’s no better place to celebrate Dolly Parton than the Louisiana town where one of her most beloved characters came to life.

This October 9–11, Natchitoches invites visitors to spend a weekend celebrating Dolly with Truvy’s Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration. Inspired by Dolly’s unforgettable role as Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias, the three-day celebration brings together music, movies, local businesses and plenty of pink for a weekend in the heart of Louisiana’s oldest city.

Natchitoches has long held a special connection to Steel Magnolias. The beloved film was shot in and around the city, and decades later, visitors still come to Natchitoches to experience the places that made the movie so memorable. This October, that connection takes center stage as the community celebrates Dolly’s legacy in true Natchitoches fashion.

The celebration begins Friday, October 9, with Dolly Bingo at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 5:30 p.m. Later that evening, channel your inner Dolly and head to Mama’s Blues Room for karaoke beginning at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, October 10, start the morning with Books & Butterflies from 8 a.m. to noon at the Natchitoches Farmers Market. The celebration continues throughout the day with Truvy’s Downtown Traipse, inviting visitors to explore Natchitoches’ historic downtown and experience Truvy’s Specials offered by participating businesses.

Saturday evening, tease up your hair and get ready for Truvy’s Big Hair Affair at Parkway Cinema 6 at 7 p.m. It’s a fitting way to celebrate a character, a movie and a little bit of Southern style that have become part of Natchitoches history.

The weekend wraps up Sunday, October 11, with a Blush & Bashful Brunch at Flying Heart Brewery beginning at 9 a.m.

While you’re here, make a weekend of it. Stroll the brick streets of the Natchitoches Historic District, shop local boutiques, enjoy Louisiana flavors, take in the beauty of Cane River and discover the filming locations that helped bring Steel Magnolias to the big screen. As Louisiana’s oldest city, Natchitoches offers the perfect backdrop for a weekend filled with history, Southern charm and plenty to explore.

Whether you’ve loved Dolly for decades, can quote Steel Magnolias from beginning to end, or simply need an excuse for a girls’ weekend in Natchitoches, Truvy’s Blush & Bashful Weekend is your invitation to celebrate friendship, Southern charm and the legacy of a woman whose talent and spirit have touched generations.

Pack something pink, bring your best big hair and join us October 9–11, 2026, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

For complete event information, updates and weekend details, visit Truvy’s Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration at Natchitoches.com. Visitors can also explore Natchitoches.com for lodging, dining, attractions and everything needed to plan a weekend getaway.

Lodging link: natchitoches.com/stay/
Calendar link: natchitoches.com/calendar/
Embedded event link: https://natchitoches.com/truvys-blush-bashful-weekend-a-dolly-parton-celebration/

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On Sept. 30, 1960, television viewers were introduced to Fred Flintstone, Wilma Flintstone, Barney Rubble and Betty Rubble when “The Flintstones” premiered on ABC.

Set in the fictional Stone Age community of Bedrock, the animated sitcom followed the Flintstones and their neighbors as they dealt with everyday family, work and social life — just with dinosaurs, stone-age technology and prehistoric animals mixed in.

The series premiere, “The Flintstone Flyer,” aired at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. The Paley Center for Media lists the premiere as a 25-minute animation and comedy program.

What made “The Flintstones” unusual was not simply its prehistoric setting. The series was created as a prime-time sitcom, rather than as children’s programming. It was patterned after the popular family sitcom “The Honeymooners” and used its Stone Age setting to portray contemporary family life.

The show would go on to run for six seasons and 166 episodes before its original run ended in 1966.

More than six decades later, Bedrock remains one of television’s most recognizable fictional communities, and Sept. 30 marks the date when the “modern Stone Age family” first arrived in American prime time.

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Until Tuesday night at the Shreveport Convention Center, the last time we saw Tyrann Mathieu, he was flanked by rap stars Lil Wayne and Boosie, doing the Victory Hill walk alongside Lane Kiffin before LSU’s Sept. 12 game against Louisiana Tech.

He felt tall, and it felt good.

“I’m next to people that I’m much taller than,” said a chuckling Mathieu, who despite standing 5-9, became a dynamic cornerback and kick returner for the Tigers in an abbreviated college career in 2010-11. “I felt like reaching over and tapping them on the head, saying ‘good boy.’”

He stood tall in his visit to Shreveport for the annual Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Kickoff Dinner, addressing how he got through disciplinary stumbles that ended his LSU career early, and reflecting on his evolution from growing up without present parents in New Orleans to becoming the defensive leader of a Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl champion highlighting a 12-season NFL career – and now, serving as a mentor for youth around his hometown.

“Over the course of my career, one of the things I was most proud to be involved in was this program we had with some kids in Louisiana, specifically the Baton Rouge area,” he told interview host Patrick Netherton. “To be able to share my time with them and learn them, right? Because I didn’t necessarily see ‘bad’ kids. I just saw kids that just needed help. They needed assistance.”

And he’d been there.

“I didn’t really grow up in a traditional sense,” he said, explaining his father was in prison for 30 years, until 2023. “I was raised mostly by my aunt and my uncle. Had it not been for them, I probably wouldn’t know what a football looked like.”

But they were infinitely more impactful for a confused boy.

“Before that, I thought nobody loved me. I thought, why is it me that couldn’t be with my biological parents? (Then) you start to look at it a different way — you’re actually happy. When I did move with my uncle and my aunt, I wasn’t a bad kid,” he remembered. “They definitely provided me with structure and discipline. I had household chores. I had to do my homework. I just couldn’t just play sports.

“Even when I did go through some of the things I went through later on in life, I was always able to sort of fall back on that,” said Mathieu. “People who know me knew I wasn’t a bad kid – I was just going through a rough patch.”

He weathered it.

His freshman year at LSU ended spectacularly, when he was the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in LSU’s Cotton Bowl victory. As a sophomore, Mathieu earned the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player in college football and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. 

But he never played another down in Baton Rouge. He was suspended shortly before the 2012 season by coach Les Miles for violating team rules, and entered a drug rehab program. Two months later, a marijuana arrest moved him toward declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft.

While not discussing specifics of that rocky patch, Mathieu stressed values instilled by those who raised him, and strong influence by former Tiger teammate Patrick Peterson, were pivotal in navigating the turmoil and becoming a responsible adult and successful pro player.

“That was a lonely period for me,” he said. “Think about how high I was, a Heisman Trophy finalist, essentially, along with (Saints star) Drew Brees, the face of Louisiana football. But I look back on it, and I’m glad I stuck with it because I began to grow.

“It makes you a big proponent of mentorship,” he said.

It launched a pro career that required overcoming more adversity in the form of two knee surgeries and other injuries to earn four All-Pro honors as a cornerback and safety.  To excel at the highest level required more than tenacity and skill, he explained.

“When you play against guys like that, you realize, your athleticism won’t get it done. You have to be able to think the game through, you have to anticipate what’s next. And then you have to have a great memory,” said Mathieu.

His proudest football achievements were his draft day, and helping the Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV.

“The Chiefs signed me to be the Patrick Mahomes of their defense. Going back to 5-6 years old, I always got close, never really got it done,” he said. “I had a lot of dreams as a kid, can’t tell you how many came true, but that was one that did.”

The last came as a surprise when he was considering retirement. Mathieu got to spend his last three seasons with his hometown team, the Saints.

“I always kind of wanted to be a part of that. It was great that the opportunity came around.”

Now, he is married, raising his five kids on the other side of Lake Pontchartrain from where he grew up. He drove to Shreveport and back home Tuesday, happy to share his entertaining and inspiring story with hundreds of strangers.

And, to the delight of the audience, forecasting success for his Tigers and Kiffin.

“I don’t think that they’re a championship team this year, but I think they will be very, very soon. I’m looking forward to it.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Assistant AD for Communications

While Centenary’s football team tries to break through on the road Saturday, its futbol teams play at home in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference soccer doubleheader kicking off at noon at Atkins Field.

FOOTBALL:  The Gents’ fourth quarter rally fell short in the final minute last Saturday night at Atkins Field in a 14-7 loss to Schreiner. But that game provides encouragement heading into the SCAC opener for coach Bryon Dawson’s team.

The Gents (1-3) go to Sherman, Texas, near Dallas to play Austin College (1-3) in a 3 p.m. contest. The Kangaroos also lost to Schreiner, 33-27 on Sept. 5.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: The Ladies fell 3-1 to East Texas Baptist University in a non-conference contest on Tuesday at Cornish Field in Marshall.

The Ladies (2-5) had won two in a row before falling short to the Tigers (5-4). The match was tied at 1-1 before ETBU scored two goals in the second half to seal the win.

Saturday, kickoff at home is 2:30 for Centenary against the University of St. Thomas.

MEN’S SOCCER: The Gents were edged 1-0 by the Millsaps College Majors last Friday in a non-conference contest at Harper Davis Field in Jackson, Miss.  The Gents (3-3) and Majors (5-1-2) were meeting for the first time since the 2016 season.

Reid Brenner broke a scoreless halftime tie with a goal just seconds after the break and Centenary could not answer.

Gents’ junior goalkeeper Andres Orsorio played all 90 minutes and made seven saves, marking the fourth time this season he has tallied at least seven.

The Gents kick off against St. Thomas in a noon SCAC match Saturday at Atkins Field.

VOLLEYBALL: The Ladies were swept by Austin College in a SCAC match last Friday inside the Gold Dome.

Centenary (1-6, 0-2 SCAC) lost in straight sets (25-10, 25-15, 25-9) to the ‘Roos (9-4, 1-0 SCAC). 

The Ladies don’t play until next weekend on the road in conference matches against Colorado College and the host University of Dallas in Irving, Texas.

MEN’S GOLF: The Gents shot a 51-over par 627 to finish in a tie for sixth place in the Scots Fall Invitational hosted by Lyon College on Tuesday at the Course at Eagle Mountain in Batesville, Ark.

Centenary, opening its season, shot a 17-over par 305 in Tuesday’s final round which was preceded by a 34-over par 322 on Monday. 

Freshman Oscar Grinsfelder led the way for the Gents as he tied for ninth place after shooting a 4-over par 148 in his collegiate debut. He shot even-par 72 in Monday’s opening round and a 4-over par 76 on Tuesday.

The Gents return to the course in the Carla Spenkoch Invitational Oct. 12-13 at the Quarry Golf Course in San Antonio.

COACHING HIRES:  Elijah Miller has joined the football coaching staff as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

Miller, a native of Tacoma, Wash., is an experienced coach and offensive specialist with coaching experience at the NCAA Division I FBS, FCS, NAIA, high school and international professional levels. He comes to Centenary following a highly impactful tenure as the assistant head coach, offensive line coach, and recruiting liaison at Federal Way High School, one of the top programs in the state of Washington.

Tyron Riles has joined the volleyball coaching staff as an assistant coach. Riles, a native of Amarillo, Texas, comes to Centenary from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, where he served as graduate assistant director of operations and  recruitment visits. 

Riles was a founding member of West Texas A&M’s first men’s club volleyball program. He competed as an outside hitter, opposite, and setter, developing a multi-position understanding of offensive systems. Riles obtained a bachelor of science in education and a master of science in sports management from West Texas A&M.

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

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I started tournament fishing in the spring of 1990 and can remember it like it was yesterday! A friend of mine who was known as a very good angler asked me to fish a tournament with him. While I balked at first and did not have much interest in fishing tournaments, I gave in after several phone calls and a lot of begging. 

To say I was hooked after this event would be an understatement. This took place at a point in my life when I was no longer playing minor league baseball and was looking for another avenue where I could go out and compete. 

Tournament bass fishing has filled that niche and provided the opportunity to satisfy my competitive fire. But during the early ‘90s, there were not a lot of tournament trails like there are today.  

Angler’s Choice and the old Redman Series, along with a few charity tournaments, were all that were available at that time. Then in the mid ‘90s the FLW organization (named after Ranger Boats owner Forest L. Wood) was formed and they introduced several lower-level trails that allowed young up- and-coming anglers to learn and master fishing skills. 

It was an organization that offered grass roots anglers the chance to compete, get better and move up to the higher levels that FLW offered like the Everstart’s (now Toyota Series), FLW Series, and the original FLW Tour (now the MLF Bass Pro Tour), the highest level of professional bass fishing. 

FLW also introduced what is now called the BFL Tour (its lowest level) which stands for Bass Fishing League and was designed for the weekend warrior or what many called the working man series.

I fished a ton of these starting out and it was not uncommon for the BFL and Toyota Series events to draw 200 to 250 anglers for both the pro and co-angler divisions. It was so hard to get into these that if you did not sign up for all the events on the schedule, you did not get in.  

The best decision I ever made was in 2004 when I decided to sign up and fish as a co-angler on the FLW Tour, the highest level of FLW. This experience was invaluable for my development as an angler. 

I drew some of the best professional anglers to ever wet a hook with former FLW Cup and Bassmaster Classic Champion Dion Hibdon, former FLW Champion and three-time Angler of the Year Clark Wendlandt. 

Spending time in the boat with this caliber of angler will make you better. I learned so much, not just in terms of technique, but time management and scouting. I learned even at the highest level these guys do not over complicate the issue of catching and locating bass; they keep it simple.

I was really surprised how simple pro anglers keep their tournament preparation. It’s attention to detail that makes the highest level of anglers stand apart. 

Making sure their hooks are sharp is very important. Anglers will take the time to change out both sets of treble hooks on a crankbait if they have been fishing around wood or rocks. 

Sharp hooks equal bass in the boat, and bass in the boat equals paychecks! They also make sure they have fresh line spooled on each reel the day before the tournament starts. 

The great anglers are fanatics on tackle storage organization. Being able to put their hands on whatever they are looking for in a timely manner is very important. They can’t afford to waste time on tournament day looking for tackle. No detail is overlooked by anglers who fish for a living. 

Overall, I have enjoyed and learned so much during my 30-plus years of tournament bass fishing. I’ve met and made so many friends through tournament fishing.  Some of my best friends today have come from the bass tournament world. 

Anglers are like a coaching fraternity; there’s a unique bond that you just can’t find anywhere else. If there’s one thing I will miss when I decide to quit competing and lay my rods down for the last time, it’s that infectious comradery you have between anglers. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Join us in celebrating Clint Oliver on reaching his 5-year anniversary with BOM Bank! As a Lender at our Fern Avenue location in Shreveport, Clint has spent the last five years helping customers achieve their goals, finding solutions, and providing the personalized service that makes community banking special. Clint, thank you for your dedication, hard work, and commitment to our customers and the BOM family. We appreciate everything you do and are proud to celebrate this milestone with you! Help us congratulate Clint on 5 fantastic years with BOM Bank!

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[jsllc_giveaway_form slug=”dollyparton2026″]

The Parish Journals of Louisiana are giving one statewide reader the opportunity to enjoy a special weekend in Natchitoches Parish during the Dolly Parton Celebration.

One qualifying reader will receive a $600 travel package to help make the trip possible.

The prize package includes:

• $300 Food Card
• $200 Travel Cash
• $100 Gas Card

The winner will be selected from the statewide pool of eligible qualifiers on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.

The getaway is intended for the winner to visit Natchitoches Parish during the Dolly Parton Celebration weekend, Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.

Events being planned for the weekend include Dolly Bingo at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Dolly Karaoke, downtown dining and drink specials, the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival, the Creole Festival at St. Augustine Church, Butterflies and Books at the Natchitoches Farmers Market, Steel Magnolias-themed activities, shopping and entertainment along Front Street, Truvy’s Big Hair Affair on the riverbank and a Blush & Bashful Brunch.

Some celebration events remain tentative and individual schedules, locations and activities may change.

Each participating Journal will have its own signup link, but all eligible qualifiers will be combined into one statewide pool from which the winner will be selected.

There is no cost to participate.

Every eligible qualifier who completes the registration process will also receive a Lifetime Free Subscription to the Journal through which the reader qualified, delivered directly to the email address provided during registration.


Contest Rules

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“There is nothing new under the sun,” says the writer of Ecclesiastes. Clearly, he never had to update the software on his phone while waiting in the Walmart pickup lot.

Surely the Internet has changed everything. We order groceries from the couch, clothes from the kitchen table, and things we did not know we needed while brushing our teeth. By the time a package arrives, I sometimes have to open it to find out what I bought.

But perhaps the writer of Ecclesiastes knew more about us than we think.

A century or so ago, you went to the general store and told the clerk what you needed. The clerk gathered your order from the shelves. In some places, the store even delivered it to your home. If you wanted something special from the Sears catalog, you ordered it and waited. And waited. The catalog was full of wonders, but “arriving tomorrow” was not one of them.

Then came the shopping cart. Store owners wondered whether customers would really fetch their own groceries. They did. Soon we were pushing carts down aisles, filling them ourselves, and choosing among forty-seven kinds of breakfast cereal. Progress had arrived, though nobody had warned us we would eventually have to steer a cart with one bad wheel.

Now we tap a screen, tell someone else what we need, and wait for that person to gather it from the shelves. They may even deliver it to our home. Or we park at Walmart, check in on our phones, and wait for the groceries to appear. We have used astonishing technology to return to telling the clerk what we want.

There is nothing new under the sun.

Of course, Ecclesiastes was saying something deeper than “the general store will make a comeback.” Human life has a way of circling around the same needs. We find new ways to shop, work, and communicate, but we still know disappointment. We still make mistakes. We still lie awake worrying about someone we love. We still long for peace when the day has worn us thin.

Maybe you need a second chance. Maybe life has been so crowded with responsibilities that joy has quietly slipped out the back door. Maybe you are carrying a regret you cannot undo, or you have managed to look fine in public while feeling anything but fine at home.

For those needs, I have one word: Jesus.

Not because speaking his name makes every problem disappear by Thursday. It doesn’t. Jesus offers something better than a quick fix. He meets people who have failed and calls them forward. He welcomes the weary. He gives forgiveness where shame has settled in, and hope where we thought nothing could grow again.

The shopping cart may keep changing. The human heart still needs grace. And the good news of Jesus is that grace is available to you, right where you are—even if right where you are happens to be the Walmart pickup lot.

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Mary Lee, age 71, of Doyline, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 27, 2026, with her husband at her side.

Born on October 1, 1954, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Mary was the beloved daughter of Vivian Smith Clark and William Earl Price. Throughout her life, Mary was known for her kindness, unwavering faith, quick sense of humor, generosity, and deep love for her family and work family. She had a gift for making people feel welcome and cared for, whether through a warm conversation, a thoughtful gesture, or one of her comforting home-cooked meals.

Mary dedicated her life to GOD and to spending time with family and friends. She found great joy in riding horses, activities with work family, and being with people she loved. Her home was a place of laughter, familiar traditions, and open doors.

Mary Lou will always be remembered for her gentle strength, infectious laughter, generous spirit, and the way she made every person feel important. The love she shared will continue to live on through all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Mary is survived by her husband, Larry Lee; daughter, Stacey; son, Chris, and his wife, Bri; brothers, Bob Fentress and wife, Doreen of Shreveport, Bill Fentress and wife, Jeanie of Haughton, Buster Fentress and wife, Wanda of Shreveport; and grandchildren, Lauren, Katie, Parker, Britney and Kenneth.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Vivian Clark; father, William Price; and aunts, Mary and Georgia.

A celebration of Mary Lou’s life will be held from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City, Louisiana, followed by a funeral procession to Point Chapel Cemetery at the corner of Foreman Rd and Fuller St (LA 163) in scenic Doyline, LA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, http://www.stjude.org, in Mary Lou’s memory.

Her favorite scripture was Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths, and knew how to live it.

Mary may be gone from our sight, but her love, memories, and legacy will remain forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

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Bonnie June Milburn Pracht, of Shreveport, Louisiana, age 93, passed away on September 25, 2026 following a brief illness.

Bonnie was born on June 30, 1933, in Cedar County Missouri. She was the oldest daughter of Clara and Virgil Milburn. Her older brother was Virgil Walter Milburn, who passed in 2023. Her younger sister, Joann Milburn Shields still lives on her farm in Missouri near the family’s hometown of El Dorado Springs, Missouri, where Bonnie went to school and graduated from high school. It is there where she met and married her beloved husband, Dale Julian Pracht in 1952.

As a young couple they moved to Kansas City, Missouri where their first daughter Bonnie Diane Pracht was born in 1954. They soon moved to Springfield, Missouri, where Dale went to college at Missouri State University and according to Bonnie she did his homework. Sometime after his graduation, they moved to Springfield, Illinois and later moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where Dale and Bonnie had two more children, Steven Dale Pracht in 1957 and Suzanne Michele Pracht Lanier in 1962. From there, they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, Houston, Texas, West Dundee, Illinois, back to Houston (Spring), Texas, and finally settled in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1973 where they stayed for the rest of their lives.

Throughout her lifetime, Bonnie was a supportive wife and wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother. While raising her family, she had many different careers, but especially enjoyed working in landscape design, and dental assisting. While living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she worked at Collins Radio during NASA’s Mercury Space Program.

In addition to her family, her special loves were sunsets, oil painting, gardening, photography, and travel. Bonnie and Dale traveled all over Europe, Mexico, Bahamas, Alaska, Hawaii, and all over the domestic US. Bonnie especially loved the beach and sailing on Cross Lake with her beloved friends from the Shreveport Yacht Club and her grandson, Steven Dale Pracht, Jr. For several consecutive summers, she enjoyed assisting with the yacht club’s sailing camp, teaching many young sailors.

Dale and Bonnie were longtime members of Brookwood Baptist Church and the Shreveport Yacht Club. The family sends their love and appreciation to the wonderful friends at both for their years of support, love and friendship. A special thank you to the Friday nighters at the Shreveport Yacht Club for being such wonderful friends to Dale and Bonnie over the years and especially after Dale’s death. Also, much love to Janise Driggers for traveling from Mississippi to care for Bonnie in her final months. She is a special blessing from God.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dale Julian Pracht in 2020. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Clara and Virgil Milburn, and her brother Virgil Walter Milburn, brother-in-law, Gene Shields, and sister-in-law, Jean Milburn. She is survived by her sister, Jo Ann Shields of Moundville, Missouri. She is also survived by her daughter, Bonnie Diane Wood (husband Daniel Wood), son, Steven Dale Pracht, Sr., (wife Mandi Pracht) and daughter, Suzanne Michele Pracht Lanier, (fiancé Paul Alli).

Additionally, Bonnie is survived by her beloved grandchildren, in order of appearance: Christopher Daniel Wood, Michael Wayne Wood, Stephanie Diane Wood, Steven Dale Pracht, Jr. (and Jacqueline Pracht), Austin Lee Lanier, and Ian Scott Lanier, bonus-grandchildren Jesse Wendt, Joey Wendt (Kirby) and Heather Wendt (Stephen). She is also survived by great grandchildren, Sutton Dale Pracht, and Sawyer Jack Pracht. Bonnie is also survived by her loving nieces and nephews, Twila Clark, Reg Milburn, Glenna Winship, (David), Cindy Hollinger, and Camie Shultz (Kerry).

Visitation will be at 9 A.M. followed by a memorial service at 10 A.M. on Friday, October 16, 2026 at Brookwood Baptist Church.

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Phonetic: /BEL-WEH-ther/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition

Bellwether usually refers to something that serves as an indicator of trends. It can also refer to someone or something that leads others.

Event organizers say the concert series is a bellwether, demonstrating that good shows can bring visitors to the town.

Mary Jean Hogan Hutson
September 17, 1929 – September 28, 2026
Service: Friday, October 9, 2026, 1pm at St. Mary of the Pines Catholic Church, Shreveport.

Betty Lou Crews Smith
April 10, 1933 — September 26, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 10am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.

Irma Christine Turner
March 29, 1935 – September 26, 2026
Service: Thursday, October 1, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.

Bonnie June Milburn Pracht
June 30, 1933 — September 25, 2026
Service: Friday, October 15, 2026, 10am at Brookwood Baptist Church, Shreveport.

Patricia Phenor Stripling
September 12, 1962 – September 25, 2026
Service: Friday, October 2, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.

Beverly D. B. Davis
July 25, 1950 – September 24, 2026
Service: Friday, October 2, 2026, 12pm at Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport.

Crystal D. Jones
January 2, 1976 — September 24, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11am at Red Chute Baptist Church, Haughton.

Kenneth Lawrence “Ken” Lerchie
November 12, 1947 – September 24, 2026
Service: Friday, October 2, 2026, 10:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Shreveport.

Robert James Waddles
October 4, 1946 – September 23, 2026
Service: Friday, October 2, 2026, 11am at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, Shreveport.

Donna Victoria Willis
September 19, 1968 — September 23, 2026
Service: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 11:30am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.

Donald Terrell
November 30, 1964 – September 22, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 1pm at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, Shreveport.

Karolyn May Parsons
January 26, 1948 — September 21, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 10, 2026, 10:30am at Airline Drive Church of Christ, Bossier City.

Timothy Allen “Timmy” Johnston
September 16, 1968 — September 20, 2026
Service: Thursday, October 1, 2026, 1pm at Aulds Funeral Home, Shreveport.

David McClain
July 23, 1971 – September 19, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11am at Sunflower Baptist Church, Bossier City.

Nelva Rodney
February 2, 1939 – September 19, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 12pm at St. Peter Baptist Church, Shreveport.

Carl Dale Henry
April 16, 1964 — September 15, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.

James David Shaw
January 4, 1950 – September 14, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 4pm at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.

Betty Lou Crews Smith
April 10, 1933 — September 12, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.

Jerry Grass
December 21, 1935 — August 27, 2026
Service: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 11:30am at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.

Robert Ashley Jahnke
March 11, 1945 – August 10, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11am at Christ United Methodist Church, Shreveport.

Helen Christine “Chris” Frazier Belk
October 1, 1953 — August 6, 2026
Service: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 2pm at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, Shreveport.

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South Bossier Fire District #2 crews responded to multiple calls over the weekend.

On Saturday, crews responded to a vehicle fire, multiple EMS calls and a grass fire that spread to a camper trailer.

Sunday morning started with a structure fire that damaged two homes, followed by more EMS calls. The weekend ended with a grass fire that threatened nearby structures.

The fire district is actively looking for volunteers. Those interested in serving the community can visit Station #1 at 3551 Highway 527 in Elm Grove on a Tuesday night. Training begins at 1800.

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The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office thanks federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for inviting Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. to Monday’s press conference announcing the GATOR Task Force — Gun Crime Abatement and Targeted Offender Response Force.

The multi-agency initiative brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement resources with the shared mission of identifying and apprehending violent offenders, removing illegal firearms and dangerous drugs from our communities, and improving public safety throughout North Louisiana.

Sheriff Whitehorn joined U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and other law enforcement and government leaders for the announcement.

The GATOR Task Force began operations on July 9 and has already produced significant enforcement results. Officials announced that the initiative has resulted in 65 arrests, eight indictments, the seizure of approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine and 19 firearms, and the recovery of multiple stolen vehicles.

The task force also played an important role in the recent investigation and apprehension of escaped Caddo Correctional Center inmate Tre’veon Jackson. Following Jackson’s escape from deputy custody, local, state, and federal agencies worked together to develop and share intelligence during the multi-agency search that ultimately resulted in his capture in Texas.

“The successful capture of Tre’veon Jackson demonstrated what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together, share intelligence, and focus their resources on a common mission,” Sheriff Whitehorn said. “I appreciate U.S. Attorney Zachary Keller and all of our federal, state, and local partners for including the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office in this important initiative. Criminals do not recognize jurisdictional boundaries, and neither can our partnerships. We will continue working together to protect the citizens of Caddo Parish and communities throughout North Louisiana.”

A key component of the GATOR Task Force is a centralized intelligence operation that lets participating agencies quickly share information and coordinate investigative resources. This collaborative approach strengthens law enforcement’s ability to identify violent offenders, connect criminal activity across jurisdictions, and respond quickly when public safety is threatened.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is proud to stand alongside its federal, state, and local partners in supporting initiatives that strengthen communication, intelligence sharing, and coordinated enforcement.

Sheriff Whitehorn and the men and women of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office remain committed to working with every law enforcement partner willing to share in the responsibility of making Caddo Parish and North Louisiana safer places to live, work, and raise a family.

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Six Shreveport Mayoral Candidates Face Voters at LGBTQ+ Forum; Arceneaux Absent
People Acting for Change and Equality, Louisiana Secretary of State

Six of seven Shreveport mayoral candidates participated Sunday in the 2026 PACE Shreveport Mayoral Forum at LSU Shreveport, hosted by People Acting for Change and Equality, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ equality in Northwest Louisiana. Candidates addressed questions about LGBTQ+ rights, discrimination protections, healthcare, youth safety, and building public trust. Caddo Commissioners Stormy Gage-Watts and John-Paul Young, State Rep. Tammy Phelps, Sia Ravari, Michael Williams, and Chaunta Mero all participated. Mayor Tom Arceneaux declined the invitation, citing a busy campaign schedule and saying his absence does not reflect his commitment to serving all Shreveport residents fairly. The general election is November 3.

Shreveport Police Seek Man Accused of Domestic Violence Against Pregnant Woman
Shreveport Police Department

Shreveport Police are searching for a man wanted in connection with a domestic violence attack on a pregnant woman in front of an infant. The incident comes as the department reports domestic violence calls have reached a five-year high in 2026, with more than 2,124 calls received so far this year. Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to contact Shreveport Police or Shreveport-Caddo Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.

Louisiana Voter Registration Deadline Is October 4 — One Week Away
Louisiana Secretary of State

Louisiana residents have until Sunday, October 4 to register to vote in the November 3 general election. Caddo and Bossier parish races on the ballot include Shreveport mayor, school board seats, judgeships, and the Caddo Parish $60 million sports complex bond proposition. Residents can register online at GeauxVote.com, in person at the Caddo Parish Registrar of Voters, 525 Marshall St., Shreveport, or at any Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles location. Those already registered should verify their registration is current at GeauxVote.com.




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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – It’s not an open date week for LSU, but the next best thing.

After intense games against Clemson, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, and avoiding a trap game with a second-half rally against Louisiana Tech, the 11^th-ranked Tigers will be an overwhelming favorite Saturday night when McNeese rides over on I-10 to pick up a guarantee check.

Wasn’t that long ago that McNeese caused LSU some extra effort to salt away comfortable wins. But with NIL, the talent level gap has greatly expanded, so Tigers coach Lane Kiffin didn’t kid anybody in his Monday media session.

“No disrespect, anything at all, but these games over years, like I told the players, this is not about the opponent. This is about us practicing very well and going and playing really well, and not looking at who they played and what division and all those things,” he said. “These guys play hard, have good players, and so this will be much more about us playing really well and the challenge to us all week to get better on fundamentals.”

This contest sends the Tigers (3-1) into October, a month that has a reduced degree of difficulty than September or November. SEC games next month are against Kentucky on the road, Mississippi State and at Auburn – not top-end conference foes.

But the November back-to-back-to-back gauntlet of Alabama, Texas and Tennessee will push LSU to the limit. While there’s an open date before hosting the Crimson Tide, this week’s visit from McNeese provides Kiffin the chance to rest banged up starters and audition reserves who are either needed to contribute immediately because of injuries or be ready to step up when starters go down.

Case in point, starting quarterback Sam Leavitt, hobbled with a hamstring injury that had him limping badly through much of his action in last Saturday’s 35-6 domination of Texas A&M.

Monday, Kiffin stopped short of saying Leavitt might sit out the McNeese game, but said his workload will be very limited this week.

Other Tigers are also on the no-contact list and might not have shoulder pads on Saturday night. Kiffin said having already lost defensive standouts Whit Weeks and Dashawn Spears to injuries (Weeks had surgery Monday on his fractured leg and his status is TBD; Spears, hurt at Ole Miss, is done for the season), he’s “freaked out” by what more injuries could mean for the Tigers’ postseason ambitions and his approach to practice and Saturday’s game reflects that.

“I’m human, with what’s happening with these freak injuries,” he said. “I took our guys out earlier Saturday than I did in previous home games (which were blowout wins over Clemson and Louisiana Tech). Because of what’s been going on, and it just freaked me out. So, we’ll be extremely careful this week all around.”

Looking down the road has the LSU coach considering prudent lineup changes this week.

“I’ve been going through that all day yesterday,” he said. “I don’t know where we’re going to end up on that. We’ve got seven conference games to go.”

The quarterback position obviously is front and center. Behind center finishing the A&M game was Elon transfer Landen Clark, who seems likely to be the starter against McNeese while Leavitt looks on.

“Landen’s done a great job. He goes into the games (and) he finds a way to make plays,” said Kiffin, who said he didn’t mean to compare Clark to his quarterback at Ole Miss last season, Heisman Trophy candidate Trinidad Chambliss – but couldn’t help doing so.

“I’m not saying he’s Trinidad, but in the same way with Trinidad, but we called it Trini-magic whenever we went into scrimmages or games, all of a sudden these things happen, and Landen has done the same thing. He performs really well.

“He was our third quarterback for the mock game, and had to be the Clemson quarterback, and ran around and made some plays against our first defense. It’s a good weapon to have, regardless of Sam’s health.”

ROOKIE HONOR: Defensive tackle Deuce Geralds has been named SEC Freshman of the Week for his performance against the Aggies.

Geralds, a true freshman from Suwanee, Ga., had five tackles and a pair of sacks as the Tiger defense allowed only 11 first downs and 197 total yards. 

Geralds has started all four games and has collected 13 tackles and 4.0 sacks for 19 yards in losses. He currently ranks fourth in the SEC in total sacks (4.0) and sacks per game (1.0). 

LSU’s defense leads the nation in sacks (19) and ranks No. 2 in rush defense (47.5 yards per game) and No. 3 in total defense (226.8). 

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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