For 20 years Cris had worked as a commercial fisherman and a dockworker.  On this particular cold March afternoon, Cris had some time on his hands.  He had just returned from working on a ship in the Bahamas and was waiting to catch another ship which would take him to yet another port city.  He never caught that ship.  While he waited, Cris walked over the frozen, snow-covered ground to King Street, the port city’s main hub of activity.  Cris carried a pound stick, a tool of his trade.  A pound stick was a large stick used to strike or pound a ship’s deck to summon crew to their stations and for setting the pacing for others while they were loading and unloading a ship’s cargo.  When not on duty, Cris and other sailors used their pound sticks as walking sticks.  

Shopkeepers on King Street recognized that something other than the comings and goings of regular commerce was happening in front of the government building nearby.  Shopkeeper Edward Payne stood in his entry doorway gazing at the large crowd trying to understand the situation.  Edward heard the voices of men and boys yelling at each other in the crowd.  Suddenly, chaos erupted.  The men and boys threw rocks, hard-packed snowballs, and anything else they could get their hands on at the nine guards protecting the government building.  Some of the sailors swung their pound sticks at the guards.  Whether Cris swung his stick has never been confirmed, but he was in the front when the guards opened fire.  The gunfire lasted for only a few seconds.  

Yells of anger turned into a mixture of moans of pain and shrieks of terror.  51-year-old Sam Gray, a rope maker, was shot in the head and died instantly.  17-year-old Sam Maverick, an apprentice, was shot in the stomach and died the following day.  49-year-old James Caldwell, a mate on a ship, was shot twice in the back and died in the street.  30-year-old Patrick Carr, leather worker, was shot in the hip and died nine days later.  Cris was shot twice in the chest and died instantly.

Others were injured but survived.  Shopkeeper Edward Payne’s arm was broken when he was struck by a shot as he stood in his shop’s doorway.  John Green, a tailor, was shot in his thigh.  Robert Patterson, a sailor, was shot through his right arm.  A youth named David Parker was shot in his thigh.  Two 17-year-old boys, Christopher Monk and John Clark, both apprentices on ships, were shot; Monk in the back and Clark in his abdomen.  All but Monk recovered from their wounds.  Monk’s wound was extremely severe, left him disabled, and led to his early death ten years later.  

Most citizens in Great Britain are unaware of this altercation, but the British government officially referred to it as the Incident on King Street.  Colonists initially called it the Bloody Massacre.  The world now refers to the Incident on King Street as the Boston Massacre.  

Sources:

1.     The Boston Gazette, March 12, 1770, p.1-3.

2.     “The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.,” Library of Congress, accessed June 28, 2027, https://www.loc.gov/item/2008661777/.

3.     “What was the Boston Massacre?” Boston Massacre Historical Society, accessed June 28, 2027, https://www.bostonmassacre.net/index.html.

---

By Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, M.D.

Louisiana Republicans face an important choice in this Senate runoff election. My opponent and I offer two very different visions for the future of our state and our nation.

I entered this race because I believe Louisiana deserves a U.S. Senator who will fight for our values, challenge the political establishment, and put our citizens’ interests ahead of special interests.

The establishment is investing heavily in this race because they understand what is at stake. They know I will challenge the status quo. They know I will vote based on conservative principles rather than political pressure. And they know I will put Louisiana first.

My opponent, Congresswoman Julia Letlow, is totally controlled by Governor Jeff Landry, whose operatives are managing her campaign and whose allies are pumping millions of dollars of dark money into the race to support her with dishonest advertisements. These insiders oppose me because they know I cannot be bought, bullied, or bossed.

Throughout my career as a physician, small business owner, U.S. Congressman, and Louisiana State Treasurer, I have built a record of service rooted in conservative principles, not political convenience.

This campaign has demonstrated the difference between grassroots leadership and establishment politics. While outside groups and political operatives relied on lies attempting to influence the race, I have relied on the support of ordinary Louisianans who are tired of seeing Washington insiders dictate the future of our state. I advanced to this runoff despite being heavily outspent because voters are looking for authenticity, experience, and conviction.

In this campaign, one of the most important issues is the protection of private property rights. Louisiana landowners should never be forced to surrender property rights to allow private carbon capture companies to profit from federally subsidized projects.

Julia Letlow strongly supported President Joe Biden’s Green Energy and Climate Change agenda, including carbon sequestration. In contrast, I staunchly support MAGA and America First policies and thoroughly oppose dangerous carbon sequestration.

I also believe the federal government should focus on merit, excellence, and equal opportunity, not divisive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Throughout her academic career, Julia Letlow passionately supported DEI policies, which seek to divide Americans by race, gender, or identity.  In the Senate, I will vote to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to support DEI mandates and that federal policies reward achievement, hard work, and individual responsibility.

Louisianans are also tired of seeing elected officials enrich themselves while in office. Public service should be exactly that, service. The American people deserve confidence that their representatives are working for them rather than leveraging their positions for personal financial gain.

Sadly, the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice have received complaints from watchdog organizations about my opponent’s alleged campaign finance violations. While serving in Congress, Ms. Letlow admitted to 210 late stock trade filings. In contrast, there is no blemish on my record, and I did not engage in stock trading in Congress.

I have spent my career standing up for conservative values, supporting secure borders, defending the unborn, protecting the Second Amendment, and fighting for limited government.

This election is about whether Louisiana will send another politician to Capitol Hill or a proven conservative fighter who is willing to challenge the status quo.

I am asking for your vote because I will not disappoint you and will always put Louisiana first. Together, we can protect our freedoms, defend our values, and ensure that our U.S. Senate seat belongs to the people of Louisiana, not political insiders.

---

Mark your calendars and make plans to join us in Celebrating 27 Years of Anderson’s Produce and Plant Farm!  This Saturday, June 27, we’ll celebrate serving our community with fresh produce, quality products, and hometown hospitality for 27 years.

This anniversary celebration is our way of saying thank you to the loyal customers, friends, and families who have made the past 27 years such a success.

Come ready to shop for all your favorite seasonal fruits and vegetables, picked fresh and packed with flavor. Whether you’re looking for sweet summer produce, garden-fresh vegetables, or healthy ingredients for family meals, you’ll find plenty to fill your baskets.

We are also excited to invite everyone to stop by and explore our new storefront, featuring an expanded selection of local and specialty products. Inside, you’ll discover a variety of unique items. 

Shoppers can browse in air-conditioned comfort for Bush Farms Jasmine Rice, a pantry staple known for its quality and flavor. You’ll also find products from Rustic Ranch, including their popular goat milk products. Sweeten your day with locally produced Mr. Jim Pratt Honey, or spice things up with flavorful selections from Sav’s Salsa.

Nut lovers won’t want to miss the assortment of Preferred Pecan products, perfect for snacking, baking, or gift-giving. We also carry a variety of homemade-style jams, jellies, pickled products, and corn meal that bring the taste of the countryside right to your table.

Anderson’s Produce offers freshly baked artisan breads from Baked by Tenleigh. Customers have the opportunity to enjoy handcrafted breads made with care and quality ingredients.

Come hungry! Joe’s 2 Geaux will be here to serve up some of the best pizza around and The Sugar Cube will be offering thirst quenching beverages.

Art enthusiasts can browse beautiful, one-of-a-kind paintings from Wild Magnolia by Addi. 

In addition to these featured products, guests will find many more unique items throughout the store, making this celebration the perfect opportunity to shop local and support small businesses.

The 27th Anniversary Celebration is more than just a shopping event—it’s a chance to gather with friends, neighbors, and fellow customers to celebrate a local business that has proudly served the community for generations. We are grateful for every customer who has walked through our doors, and we look forward to continuing to provide fresh produce, quality products, and friendly service for years to come.

We invite everyone to come out, enjoy the day, explore our new storefront, and help us celebrate this exciting milestone. Thank you for being part of the family. We can’t wait to celebrate with you on June 27th!

Anderson’s Produce and Plant Farm, half-way between LA 1 and I-49 at 858 Catfish Bend Road.  Phone 318-932-1432.

---

Discover a Place Where Children Are Known, Valued, and Inspired

At Riverdale Academy, education is about more than academics—it’s about helping children grow into confident, capable, compassionate individuals who love learning and believe in their own potential.

From the moment you walk through our doors, you’ll notice something special. You’ll see caring teachers who know their students by name, classrooms filled with curiosity and creativity, and a community that feels more like family than a school. Here, every child matters. Every achievement is celebrated. Every dream is encouraged.

We understand that choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. You want a place where your child feels safe, supported, challenged, and excited to learn each day. At Riverdale Academy, we are committed to creating that environment.

Our dedicated educators work closely with students to build strong academic foundations while nurturing critical thinking, character development, leadership skills, and a lifelong love of discovery. Whether your child is taking their first steps in education or preparing for the next stage of their academic journey, Riverdale Academy provides the guidance, encouragement, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Beyond the classroom, students are empowered to explore their interests, build meaningful friendships, and develop the confidence to reach for their goals. We believe that every child possesses unique gifts, and our mission is to help those gifts shine.For example, we partner heavily with Bossier Parish Community College and Red River 4-H to offer STEM opportunities such as SeaPerch and First Robotics to our students. This year, students in 2nd-4th grades will have the opportunity to be involved in First Explore, an introduction to robotics. Students in grades 4th-12th are offered First Challenge and a chance to compete in robotics competitions. Grades 7th-12th can also participate in SeaPerch where they learn the skills to build a remote operated vehicle that will be used in competitions to complete themed missions. 

Families choose Riverdale Academy because they want more than a school—they want a community that partners with them in raising successful, well-rounded young people. They want teachers who care, programs that inspire, and an environment where children can flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.

Your child’s future begins with the choices you make today.

Give them the opportunity to learn in a place where they are encouraged to dream boldly, achieve confidently, and grow with purpose.

Enrollment is now open.

Schedule a visit, meet our exceptional faculty, and experience the Riverdale Academy difference for yourself. We invite you to become part of a community where children are nurtured, challenged, and celebrated every step of the way.

For inquiries, contact sgreer@riverdaleacademy.org or hbrown@riverdaleacademy.org or check out riverdaleacademy.org or our Facebook page.

Spaces are limited. Enroll today and give your child the gift of an education that inspires a lifetime of success.

Riverdale Academy
Where every child belongs, every voice matters, and every future shines.

Riverdale Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or national origin.

---

I had it. Oh, I had it.

The greatest idea in the history of these Ponderings. Pulitzerworthy. Heavensanctioned. The kind of idea that makes you sit up straighter in your car at the Walgreens red light and think, “Well now… that’s good.”

I remember exactly where I was when it arrived. I was headed to Tractor Supply to look at things I will never use in my life. I call this “expanding my horizons,” though my horizons remain suspiciously unchanged. Still, there I sat—traffic creeping, inspiration soaring. The idea was brilliant. It was illuminating. It was humorous. It was under six hundred words. It was perfect.

And then a voice in my head whispered, “This one is unforgettable. No need to write it down.”

Never trust that voice. That voice lies. That voice is the same one that says, “You don’t need a grocery list,” and “You’ll remember where you parked,” and “You can fix that without reading the instructions.”

The truth is: I have absolutely no idea what the idea was. None. I don’t know if it was about faith or farming or ferrets. I don’t know if it was animal, mineral, or vegetable. It has vanished. Gone. Evaporated. Or worse—someone else posted it on social media this morning and is now being hailed as a genius. If you read something brilliant, illuminating, and humorous today, it was probably mine.

I do remember this much: it had something to do with a Yiddish proverb I’m using in a sermon later this month. It goes like this: “If one man calls you an ass, pay him no mind. If two men call you an ass—go buy a saddle.” I thought it was brilliant, illuminating, and humorous. I just forgot what else went with it.

Do you forget?  Because I do. More and more. As I grow more “mature” (which is the polite churchnewsletter way of saying “things are starting to creak”), I’ve noticed my mind isn’t quite as quick as it once was. I forget names. I forget appointments. I forget why I walked into the kitchen. I even forgot to read an online article about remembering not to forget.

But here’s the tender truth tucked inside all this forgetfulness:

God remembers you. Every bit of you. Not the polished version you wish you were—you. He remembers you with love, with delight, with the kind of attention usually reserved for an only child. And while God remembers you, He chooses to forget something else entirely:

Your sins. When you confess them, He doesn’t file them, store them, or keep them in a drawer labeled “For Later Use.” He forgets them. Completely. Eternally. Joyfully. So if God has forgotten your sins, why are you still lugging them around like a saddle you never needed to buy?

Maybe the real brilliance—the idea I lost somewhere between Walgreens and Tractor Supply—is simply this:

Your memory may fail you, but God’s mercy never does.  And that’s something worth remembering.

---

Michael Faraday was born in 1791 just outside London, England.  Michael’s father, a blacksmith who was often too ill to work steadily, could hardly afford to feed himself, his wife, and Michael and his three siblings.  He could certainly not afford to send his children to school.  Up until he was a teenager, Michael could only perform rudimentary reading, writing, and math, basic skills he learned at his church’s Sunday school.  When Michael was 14, his father arranged a seven-year apprenticeship for him under George Riebau, a bookbinder.  One of the perks of the job was that George allowed Michael to read any of the books they worked on.  Michael read books on a variety of subjects but became passionate about science.  Michael’s desire to learn impressed George as well as his customers.  One customer gave Michael tickets to attend four lectures by Humphry Davy, professor of chemistry at the Royal Institution.  Michael took copious notes and bound them in book form.  When Michael’s apprenticeship with the bookbinder ended, 22-year-old Michael asked Humphry for a job and provided his bound notes.  Humphry was taken aback by Michael’s interest, understanding, and determination, and hired Michael to be his assistant at the Royal Institute.  For the next 18 months, Michael accompanied Humphry on a tour of scientific institutions in Europe where he met noted scientists including André-Marie Ampère (for whom the ampere or amp is named) and Alessandro Volta (for whom the volt is named).  

In 1820, Michael had mastered chemistry to the point that he was developing his own theoretical views and ways to test his theories.  When Humphry retired, Michael replaced him as professor of chemistry at the Royal Institute.  While a professor, Michael became the first chemist to liquefy a “permanent” gas, one which the scientific community believed was incapable of liquification.  He discovered benzene, a colorless and highly flammable gas with a sweet smell which is partially responsible for the odor of gasoline.  His experiments with chemistry combined with electricity transformed electricity from a curiosity to a useful technology and led to him being called the father of electrochemistry and electromagnetism.  Among his many inventions were the electric motor, the electric generator, electric transformers, and a container for holding hydrogen.      

In 1824, Michael was performing experiments with hydrogen to understand its properties.  He experimented with several different containers to determine the best vessel for holding hydrogen.  In one experiment, Michael cut out two pieces of raw, tacky rubber into circles, rubbed flour on the center of the two pieces to prevent it from sticking, and pressed the edges of the rubber together.  The edges of the raw rubber sealed to itself automatically.  The scientific community was so enthralled with Michael’s new container that in the following year, 1825, rubber manufacturer Thomas Hancock began producing do-it-yourself rubber hydrogen container kits for scientists.  Rubber manufacturers eventually mass-produced and marketed these containers to the public.  Each of us has probably owned a modernized version of Michael’s hydrogen container.  Rather than hydrogen, we fill ours with helium.  In that chemistry lab, Michael Faraday invented what we now know as the toy rubber balloon.  Can you imagine a world without Michael Faraday’s hydrogen containers?  

Sources:

1.     “The Genius of Michael Faraday,” American Association fo rthte Advancement of Science, September 11, 2012, accessed June 14, 2026, https://www.aaas.org/membership/scientia/genius-michael-faraday.

2.     “Balloons,” Science World, accessed June 14, 2026, https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/balloons/.

3.     Dmitriy Vaysman, “A Brief History of Party Balloons,” Balloon Lab, January 24, 2024, accessed June 14, 2026, https://balloonlabusa.com/a-brief-history-of-party-balloons/. 

---

Friday night is just right for some midsummer magic under the moonlight, free for all, during next weekend’s Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Natchitoches.

Specifically, it’s going to happen next Friday evening into night, June 26, on the Rue Beauport stage bordering Cane River Lake smack dab in the middle of the City of Lights’ historic and beautiful downtown district. It’s the free Rockin’ Riverfest party presented by Rapides Regional Medical Center and Louisiana Propane Dealers.

The showcase act is Blue Crab Redemption, a Louisiana bred and fed alt blues/rock band whose major influences include Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder and The Eagles.  Their sound is a raw, classic vibe from ghosts of legends past blended with the soulful influences of the modern rock era.

The opener is Connor Martin, a country artist passionate about creating music that inspires and connects. Recently, Martin has opened for Easton Corbin, Tyler Farr, Parker McCollum, and Keith Urban.

Good times will abound during the riverfront concert, which runs from 6 p.m. to 10:30. One of the highlights: at 9:15, the Hall’s impressive Class of 2026 will be introduced on stage, and celebrated with a 10-minute fireworks show set to sports-themed music over Cane River Lake. Then the music cranks up again for another hour of festivities.

And yes, you read correctly. It’s free to attend.

There will be food and beverage vendors – Girlines Home Cooking, Soulful Wings, Summer Snow To Go and for the grown-ups, Maggio’s, on the riverfront, and of course, Front Street’s always fun watering holes/restaurants are just a few steps away.

MOVE Sport and Spine will set up their sharp-looking apparel line for sale, and Hall of Fame gear will also be available.

It’s family friendly. A free interactive kids zone presented by the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans will include basketball, football, baseball games and inflatables for all ages to enjoy. NSU athletes will be on hand to help the kids have all the fun, and give away some basketballs.

If you want to beat the summer heat and enjoy a tasty collection of Louisiana foods and specialty refreshments, hurry and visit LaSportsHall.com to snap up some of the fast-disappearing $100 tickets to the VIP Taste of Tailgating presented by Hancock Whitney.

That party runs from 7-10 p.m. in the air-conditioned comfort of Mama’s Oyster House and Blues Room that will provide exclusive access to the 12-member 2026 Induction Class.

Join the fun and celebrate some of Louisiana’s sports greats, for free, on Friday evening, June 26, in downtown Natchitoches.

Rockin’ River Fest is one of three free events during the Induction Celebration, starting with the free Welcome Reception Thursday evening, June 25, from 5-7 in the Hall of Fame museum. It’s not a dress-up event, just a come eat and meet the inductees and check out the world-class museum at no charge. The other free event is the Saturday morning June 27 Saints & Pelicans LSHOF Junior Training Camp for kids presented by NRMC. Advance registration is necessary at LaSportsHall.com.

For information on all seven events during the June 25-27 Class of 2026 Induction Celebration, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

Paid Content

---

You ever notice that God seems to run the universe like He’s driving in reverse? If any of us tried to run things the way He does, the DMV would take away our license and make us sit through that video about safe following distances. But God specializes in doing things backwards—not wrong, not confused, but gloriously, intentionally, redemptively backwards.

Take Abraham and Sarah. By all accounts, they should’ve been greatgrandparents sitting on the porch comparing prescription prices and arguing about who hid the remote. Instead, God hands them a diaper bag and says, “Surprise!” That’s backwards. And once you start looking for it, you see it everywhere.

God picks Moses the Mumbler to speak for Him. He chooses David the Kid to fight a giant. He calls Gideon the Scaredy Cat to lead an army. He uses Rahab—with the résumé no one expected—to help secure the Promised Land. That’s backwards.

Then Jesus arrives and takes the whole thing to another level. He says the first will be last. He says you win by losing. He says you gain by giving. He says love your enemies—which is so backwards we still haven’t gotten used to it.

And the biggest backwards moment of all? The King of Kings shows up born in a barn, rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, and defeats death by dying. That’s not just backwards—that’s resurrection logic.

Maybe that’s why so many of us feel disoriented when life doesn’t go the way we planned. We assume something must be wrong. But what if the backwards places are exactly where God does His best work? What if the moments that feel upsidedown are actually the moments when God is turning things rightsideup?

So if your life feels a little backwards right now, take heart. You might be closer to God’s will than you think. After all, He’s been steering in reverse since the beginning—and somehow, He always gets us where we need to go.

---

Northwestern State University announces the names of Dean’s List students for the Spring 2026 semester. Students on the Dean’s List must be enrolled full-time at Northwestern and have a grade point average of between 3.5 and 3.99.

For questions regarding the Dean’s List, contact the NSU Registrar’s Office at (318) 357- 6171 or email registrar@nsula.edu.

Students listed by hometown (within Journal coverage areas) are as follows.

Alexandria – Ava Adams, Lexie Alberes, Ashton Brodnax, Kevin Byone, Joseph Cain, Ayla Cox, Danielle Darby, Leila Ford, Jordan Gregory, Ruben Kho, Lawson Kirsch, Jaykendel Lair, Faith Martin, Marina Moorehead, Miracle Newman, Tina Nguyen, Shelby Palmer, Trinity Patrick, Camryne Phillips, Kailyn Price, Latajah Quinney, Kamren Smith, Sydney Smith, Kelsey Stuckey, Alex Sukerek, Faith Williams

Arcadia – Lauren Terry

Ball – Dana Atwood, Tamia Bowie, Kayla DuBois, Harry Hoben, Lauren Nugent

Barksdale AFB – Christian Ostolaza, Chole Sparks

Benton – Landon Barrett, Hudson Brignac, Katharyn Evans, Carson Ferguson, Caitlyn Hayes, Sierra Khaled, Keya Little, Ella Robinson, Amelia Sims, Morgan Spradling, Tyla Stewart, Taten Wagley

Bienville – Lindsay Macynski

Bossier City – Shatha Alkhatib, Yousra Awawda, Braylee Baker, Kennedy Beloso, William Bryant, Kenneth Burnett, Lillian Cain, Bianca Capelli, Daniel Coleman, Daniel Covington, Mary Katherine Craig, Cody Davenport, Paxton DePingre, Allie Denton, Kendall Earley, Alyssa Espinosa, Ashlynn Fiske, Jadan Gray, John Gray, Mackenzie Hackleman, Layla Havis, Bryant Holmes, Cing Kim, Whitney Lamb, Sophia Livers, Patrick Lord-Stephens, Kalyssa Mall, Chase McLaurin, Natalie Mckuhen, Elyssa Moorem, Madysen Morgan, Felicia Parish, Heyshla Perez Vega, Joseph Resendez, Lizzett Rivera, Taylor Rochelle, Stephanie Salas Hernandez, Toni Sullivan, Ava Tarpley, Benjamin Taylor, Morgan Traylor, Jaslyn Turner, Bowen Vardeman, Illianna Wallace, Dwyane Watson, Jessica Watters, Lanaya Watts, Mekayla Wiggins, Ashley Woodfin

Boyce – Jace Aslin, Brooke Chelette, Chloe Cloessner, Lauren Holt, Olivia Melroy, Makinley Rachal

Bunkie – Lindy Aney, Amari Hamilton

Campti – Emma Dove, Dylan Fulton, Zoey Fulton

Castor – Leanne Colson, Malorie Cooper

Cheneyville – Dorcia Gillam

Cloutierville – Sydni Jones

Converse – Chloe Carter, Drake Friday, Mason Procell, Keigan Remedies, Justin Rushing

Cottonport – Keyonce Friels, Bryce Juneau

Effie – Sophie Moreau

Elm Grove – William Achee

Elmer – Layla Chandler

Florien – Cesaleigh Hall, Kennadi Sparks, Lilly Sparks, Madison Weldon

Forest Hill – Ethan Green, Baronica Gunter

Frierson – Joshua Bouriaque, Angelina Lee

Glenmora – Hunter Dauza, Marshall Dauzat, Katie Dupre, Martha Sierra, Kadence Tolbert, Gage Ware

Gloster – Makayla Butler

Goldonna – Winsome Guillory

Grand Cane – Carmen Puckett

Greenwood – Krista Cates, Madisyn James

Haughton – Kameron Burns, Morgan Davison, Hannah Fields, Abigail Meador, LaShonda Pennywell, Lawson Turner

Hessmer – Macey Barr

Hineston – Shyla Clark, Rebecca Dousay, Tinley Steedman

Jena – Ella Jensen, Morgan Paul, Alyson Trahan

Keithville – BreAnne Jones, Gabriel McCalmon, Ashlynn McClain

Logansport – Alexa Gannon, Hayden Knight

Mansfield – Jessie Cobb, Elizabeth Houston, Valentina Puac, Paulette Rambin, Nysia Samuels-Rochelle

Mansura – Tori Charrier, Ashley Joseph, Kerri Parrish

Many – Allison Bordelon, Layton Byles, Kaiya Causey, Harli Cruse, Victor Culbertson, John Harris, ShaeAunna Johnson, Jeffery Key, Margaret Ryan, Baylee Samples, Kelsey Sepulvado, Trenton Sepulvado, Vivian Sylvia

Marksville – Nicholas Ferguson, Zoey Guthrie, Mia Rodriguez

Marthaville – Avery Broadway, Mason Broadway, Camryn Ford, Aaron Manasco, Megan Singletary, Amelia Strahan

Mira – Haley Knighton

Moreauville – Heidi Gauthier

Natchez – Shona Moses, Chloe Rachal

Natchitoches – Sky Anders, Christopher Anderson, Caleb Barton, Kaylee Baugh, David Bellard, Cheyenne Bertrand, Haleigh Bertrand, Benjamin Bienvenu, Avery Broadway, Arkeylius Brooks, Oscar Brown, LaTonya Burton, Cailah Bush, Josue Bustillo Aguero, Erick Cabrera, Daniel Carballo, Oscar Andres Carballo Torres, Cody Carmen, Benjamin Castro, Adriana Chaj Hernandez, Derrick Clark, Santiago Coavas Romero, LaQuita Collins, Logan Collinsworth, Arionna Conday, Aiden Cryer, Juliyah Davis, Caldwell DeFord, Brendan Donaghy, Madison Dupuy, Kamron Edwards, Jasen Elie, Jessica Ellerbe, Mateo Este-McDonald, Sileena Farrell, Airicka Fields, Roseanna Files, Kylie Fleshman, Allison Flores Reyes, Ever Naun Galeas Antunez, Sofia Garcia, Anisha Gibbons, Alexx Gibson, Irene Gomez, Ashley Harkey, Kristen Harris, Joshalyn Harrison, Charles Heard, Ethan Heard, Kyleigh Herring, Darlisha Jefferson, Allyson Jett, Cambree Jimmerson, Kevin Juarez Lopez, Punam Khadka, Kayden Larkins, Mitchell LeBlanc, Angel Maradiaga, Madison Martin, Abby McNeely, Noah McNeil, Lauren Menard, Diana Marcela Mercado Garcia, Joseph Merritt, Mikayla Mondello, Madelyn Murphy, Joshua Nolley, Kennede Oliver, Destiny Phillips, Brendal Pinckard, Cameron Possoit, Alexis Procell, Nohelia Ramos Vallecillo, Kennedi Revel, Victoria Robinson, Kaden Rush, Jordan Shields, Na’Riaya Sowell, Parker Stroope, Morgan Swafford, Belen Tenesaca Bermeo, K.C. Thompson, Shayna Tilley, Vyen Trang, Ronald Andrés Turizo Bueno, José Villeda, Artisha Waldrup, Aaron Waterstraat, Caleb White, Elizabeth White, Victoria Wiggins, Shakera Williams, Shantangelo Williams, Sophia Witman, Brian Young, Sha Young

Noble – Mariana Ebarb, Rowan Ebarb, Rebecca Hardee, Katelen Turner

Pineville – Payton Bareswill, Ethan Bolyer, Madison Book, Jenyah Clay, Kaylee Cotton, Liza Foreman, Madelyn Glaze, Darren Keel, Blake LaFargue, Madeline Litton, Breanna Melancon, Olivia Melder, Kylee Mott, Ahmani Roberson, Ada Shoup, Kirstyn Smith, Patrice Spera, Karly Stansell, Landon Vallee

Plain Dealing – Kathryn Taylor-Watkins

Plaucheville – Alise Clausen

Princeton – Xavier Hobson

Ringgold – Kaylee Cook

Robeline – Trinity Brewer, Anniston Broadway, Jax Colston, Adam Guidry, Rayleigh Harris, Baylee Johnson, Caleb Johnston, Piper Kay, Madeline Mitchell, Bonney Phillips, Harley Welling

Shongaloo – Mackenzie Hosley, Taylor Hosley

Shreveport – Kerion Anderson, ShayAnna Beatty, Shepherd Benson, Amber Bledsoe, Taja Bolds, Amarriyah Boykins, John Campbell, Taylor Capetillo, Tremia Collins, Yabria Cotton, Cassie Donaghey, Aaliyah Dove, Ashton Dykes, Kiara Ealy, Leia Estes, Macy Etheredge, Nathan Franklin, Emily Frataccia, Valerie Gongre, Tyler Hays, Emma Hernandez, Jacinta Jemeli, Monicah Jepkemboi, Kenberly Jones, Ashanti Lemons, Bryson Lewis, Jeremy Lewis, Adam Mariano, Aliyah Mason, Asia Mason, Kimberly Michelli, Kristie Miller, Amirhossein Montazeri Ghahjavarestani, Janiyah Mosley, Stella Okoh, Clairie Parent, Patricia Paterno, Araya Perkins, Hailee Posey, Claire Prda, Katherine Randolph, Char’lajahe Rattler, Rosalie Ray, Zariah Ray, Carolina Resendez, Jillian Rizzuto, Sheena Rose, Virginia Santiago, Jillian Sexton, Addison Smith, Aniyah Smith, Michaela Smith, Amanda Spraggins, Anicia Taylor, Lorien Thomas, Jamya Thompkins, Alayah Williams, Helen Williams-Brown, Lakenya Wilson

Simmesport – Nicole Canal

Stonewall – Natalie Cobb, Mya Dunn, Rhyan Floyd, Matthew Hiang, Abigail Jones, Anna Little, Kameryn Mckinney, Amber Melton, Jordan Porterfield, Kirsten Sepulvado, Mary-Elizabeth Widener, Gabriel Williams

Winnfield – Mattie Barnes, Kyleigh Blundell, Maggie Bruce, Sarah Carter, Haley Collins, Peyton Glenn, Pamela Hight, Marvanesha Lewis, Eli Little, John Pickett, Ella Price, Caleb Reed, Tolbert Triplett

Woodworth – Dustin Guillory, Lluvia Guillot, Natalie Hyde

Zwolle – Nahliyah Boykins, Christian Culbertson, Jaeger Ebarb, Dawson Leone, Emma Meshell, Kamron Parrie, Kamaryn Rivers

---

Herman Jerome “Jerry” Alter and Sara Rita Sinofsky married in 1956 in New York City.  Jerry and Rita both worked for high schools in New York and New Jersey; Jerry was a music teacher, and Rita was a speech therapist.  In 1974, Jerry retired at the young age of 47 and he and Rita bought a 20-acre mesa overlooking a mountain valley near Cliff, New Mexico, about 30 miles northwest of Silver City.  In 1979, they built a ranch-style home on the property overlooking the valley.  Jerry and Rita coauthored three independently published books, all of which were published in 2011.  The first was a blend of fictional and non-fiction adventure travel.  The second was a twist on Aesop’s Fables set in verse.  The third was a book of poetry based on their travel experiences.  The books sold poorly.  In the “about the author” section of the books, Jerry claimed that he had “visited over 140 countries on all continents, including both polar regions.”  

On April 9, 2012, 81-year-old Jerry died of natural causes, followed by 81-year-old Rita on June 5, 2017.  Rita’s nephew Ron Roseman, a resident of Houston, Texas, was the executor of her estate.  Ron contacted real estate agent Ruth Seawolf the following month to sell the property.  In an email discussing the property Ron said, “Ruthie, I’ve gone through the home, and I don’t think there is anything of value, but help yourself.”  Ruthie visited the home in preparation for putting it on the market and noted that it was “a little dated, older home,” but one she thought would “be fairly easy to sell.”  Ruthie contacted the owners of Manzanita Ridge Furniture & Antiques in Silver City, to visit the house to see how best to dispose of its contents.  Everything in the home was old and covered in dust.  When they removed the pictures and paintings from the walls, it was evident by the dust patterns that they had been hanging in the same positions for decades.  The antique store owners saw nothing they considered especially valuable and bought the entire contents for around $2,000.  

The antique store owners carted a few select items including furniture, small art pieces, and paintings back to their store and donated most of the contents to a local thrift store.  David Van Auker, one of the antique store owners, liked one of the paintings which had hung behind the Alter’s bedroom door for decades and intended to display it in his guest house.  Back at the store, customers were drawn to the painting in the cheap gold frame and said they recognized it.  After several customers independently expressed their belief that the painting looked familiar, David did some internet research.  

He was stunned to learn that over three decades earlier, on the day after Thanksgiving in 1985, a man and woman who resembled Jerry and Rita stole a Willem de Kooning painting called Woman-Ochre from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in Tucson.  The painting was valued at over $160 million, but David returned the painting to the museum of art and refused a reward.  This was just the first of many valuable paintings that the FBI learned that Jerry and Rita Alter had stolen.  Everyone, especially their friends and family, were stunned to learn that Jerry and Rita Alter were professional art thieves.  

Sources:

1.     “Herman Jerome ‘Jerry’ Alter,” FindAGrave.com, accessed June 7, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190759614/herman-jerome-alter.

2.     “Sara Rita Sinofsky Alter,” FindAGrave.com, accessed June 7, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190758039/sara_rita-alter.

3.     Arizona Daily Star, November 30, 1985, p.1.

4.     Silver City Sun-News, August 18, 2017, p.A4.

5.     The Santa Fe New Mexican, September 10, 2017, p.A2.

6.     Carlsbad Current-Argus, December 28, 2024, p.3.

---

What starts as one streaming service and a free trial can quickly become a monthly budget line item of its own. As subscription-based services continue to multiply, consumers everywhere are discovering that convenience often comes with a recurring charge attached.

---

Whether you combine finances or keep things separate, one thing matters most—having honest, regular conversations about money before it becomes a problem.

 See what Ida says 

---

This week I’m celebrating fifty two years as a licensed driver. Like most men, I naturally assume I’m a superior driver. The truth is I’m just competent enough not to injure myself or innocent pedestrians. I also spend far too much time reading bumper stickers and watching what other drivers are doing while they’re supposed to be driving. Once upon a time I could read a bumper sticker from a safe distance. Now, if I want to read your bumper, I have to tailgate you. I won’t comment on the silly things you’re doing behind the wheel, but I am working on a book.

Recently I was driving a loaner while my car was being serviced—a luxury model from a certain company that apparently believes drivers need more buttons than a NASA vehicle. It was keyless, of course. To start it, you put your foot on the brake and push a button. I’m used to that with my hybrid. But this wasn’t a hybrid. This was an old-fashioned internal combustion engine, the kind that used to require a little finesse and a lot of prayer.

My grandfather turned me loose behind the wheel about three years before the State of Alabama thought it was a good idea. I learned on what we called the “lonesome road”—a gravel stretch with only one real hazard: the creek running alongside it. Where I grew up, a bayou was a creek, and a creek was something you didn’t want to drive into. The only traffic on that road consisted of grandparents giving driving lessons and children learning how to scare them.

Most of my self-taught Drivers-Ed happened in a 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe. You didn’t so much drive that car as point it in the general direction you hoped to go. Its only luxury was an AM radio. It had a starter button too—but starting that car on a cold morning was a full-body athletic event. You turned the key, depressed the clutch, pushed the starter button, and pumped the gas pedal like you were trying to churn butter. Getting that engine to fire was one of the early rites of male competency.

So imagine my amusement when I started the loaner car with a gentle tap of a button. No pumping the gas. No choke. No carburetor to flood. No vapor lock. If automakers are going to bring back push-button starters, they could at least bring back some of the drama. Cars have changed a lot in fifty-two years. Sometimes I feel like I’m not keeping up. When the service manager asked if I wanted a tutorial on all the features, I said, “I would rather not.”

And that’s when it hit me.

There are times I feel like I’m not keeping up with Jesus either. He asks me to go and do, and I would rather not. He asks me to love and forgive, and I would rather not. He asks me to look honestly at my life, and I would rather not. Sometimes the hardest thing to face is the mirror, and I would rather not.

Preachers feel it too. Some Sundays we leap out of bed ready to preach the love of God. Other Sundays we pull the covers over our head and think about calling in sick to ourselves. On those mornings, “I would rather not” feels like a full liturgy.

And you know what? Jesus understands. In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the cross, He prayed a prayer that sounds an awful lot like “I would rather not.” But He went anyway. For you. For me.

So this Sunday, when you wake up and think about church and feel that tug of “I would rather not,” know this: you’re in good company. Preachers feel it. Jesus felt it. But blessings live on the other side of pushing past it.

How about it.

---

On Christmas Eve in 1870, a group of people, including about 16 prominent citizens of Hamilton, Ohio, gathered in a gambling room on the second floor of “the American Saloon,” an “aristocratic” drinking saloon on High Street directly opposite the Butler County courthouse.  Some of the men were playing casino at one table and others, including Thomas “Tom” Myers, were playing a game called faro at another table.  Suddenly, a gunshot rang out.  With the exception of E.D. Banister and Peter Schwab who were in the fervor of the game of casino and Tom who was seated at the faro table, the men began running from the room.  Tom stood up, leaned against the wall, and fired his pistol.  The bullet from Tom’s pistol struck the ceiling just above the faro table.  Mr. Bannister fled from the room and Mr. Schwab slunk to the floor for his own protection.  Tom fired another shot which struck the opposite wall.  Once sure that Tom was unable to fire his pistol again, Peter approached him and realized Tom had been shot in the abdomen.  Peter tried only briefly to get Tom to tell him who had shot him before he ran to get help.  Peter soon returned with Dr. Huber, who had been in the room but had fled when he heard gunshots.  Dr. Huber also tried to get Tom to explain who had shot him, but Tom was unable to speak.  Dr. Huber located a gunshot wound on Tom’s upper abdomen which had severed a main artery.  Within moments, 29-year-old Tom died.  

Immediately following the affray, all of the witnesses said that Tom “must have either did it himself or had it done.”  Based on the testimony of a young boy, Tom’s brother Joseph swore out a warrant for five men including Deputy Marshal Ich Sheely and Thomas McGehan.  Before the coroner’s jury, none of the witnesses could identify who shot Tom, but all said that Thomas McGehan had not been in the room before the shooting began.  When the accused men learned of the warrant, they turned themselves in.  In January 1871, the five men were indicted on the charge of first-degree murder.  Clement Vallandigham was one of the four defense attorneys in the trial which began on June 6, 1871.  The trial was long because over 120 witnesses had been called to testify.      

At about 9 p.m. on June 15, 1871, Clement Vallandigham and fellow defense attorney Andrew McBurney were in their hotel room discussing the case.  Clement was sure that Tom had shot himself and decided to show Andrew how Tom could have done it.  Clement pulled a pistol from his pocket, turned it towards himself, and pulled the trigger.  To his surprise, the pistol discharged.  The bullet struck Clement in almost exactly the same place Tom’s bullet had struck him.  The wound was fatal.  In trying to defend Thomas McGehan by explaining how Tom Myers had killed himself, Clement Vallandigham accidently killed himself too.  Based at least in part on Clement’s unfortunate accident, the jury found Thomas McGehan not guilty.    

Sources:

1.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, December 27, 1870, p.8.

2.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, January 31, 1871, p.8.

3.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, February 15, 1871, p.8.

4.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 6, 1871, p.8.

5.     The Evening Post (Cleveland, Ohio), June 17, 1871, p.2.

6.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 19, 1871, p.1.

7.     The Cincinnati Enquirer, December 28, 1871, p.8.

8.     “Thomas S. Myers,” Find A Grave, accessed May 25, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106977757/thomas-s-myers.

9.     “Clement Laird Vallandigham,” Find A Grave, accessed May 25, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2526/clement-laird-vallandigham.

---

It may not feel romantic, but having honest conversations about money, family, and the future before marriage can make all the difference once real life begins.

 See what Ida says 

---

By Richard Searles

Education, infrastructure and economic development among top priorities

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Legislature adjourned its 2026 Regular Session after approving a balanced $47 billion state budget focused on education, economic development, infrastructure improvements and debt reduction.

The budget includes approximately $4 billion in State General Fund support for K-12 education and $1.3 billion for higher education. Funding also includes $420 million for early childhood education and $30 million for tutoring programs.

Lawmakers approved more than $360 million in economic development initiatives, including incentives for higher-paying jobs, business site development and workforce recruitment efforts.

The Legislature also allocated more than $500 million for additional road and infrastructure projects, $33 million for Medicaid home and community-based services and $144 million to reduce state retirement debt.

Before adjourning, lawmakers approved a new congressional district map, eliminated vehicle inspection sticker requirements in most parishes, added $50 million to the fortified roof grant program and approved additional protections for minors online.

During the session, legislators considered more than 2,500 measures and sent more than 900 bills to Gov. Jeff Landry for consideration.

The 2026 Regular Session concluded with lawmakers approving major investments in education, infrastructure and economic development while advancing a wide range of policy measures affecting Louisiana residents.

---

The Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court’s office continued to be busy recording new leases as it filed 76 more oil and gas leases during the month of May 2026.

Natchitoches Parish Clerk David Stamey confirmed that activity remains steady in the area described as from Interstate 49 at Highway 6, along La. Highway 6 to the Sabine Parish line and approximately 10 miles north into the Spanish Lake bottoms. However, leasing has now occurred south of La. Highway 6 and across I-49 on the east side of the interstate. There was one lease in the far northeastern portion of the parish near the Red River Parish and Bienville Parish lines, indicating activity is also occurring in neighboring parishes.

“This is wonderful economic news for our area,” Stamey said, “but it will be even better with every gas well that is drilled. Drilling has mostly been in the northwest portion of Natchitoches Parish, but indications are that production companies have been pleased.”

Stamey mentioned that his office has been busy with both in-person abstracting and online access for conveyances dating back to 1905. “We have been lucky to meet abstractors from companies new to the Robeline field,” Stamey said. “We thank them all for their business.”

The geographic expansion of leasing activity represents a significant shift, with operators now securing acreage beyond the traditional Robeline Field concentration and into previously untapped areas across parish boundaries. Activity across I-49 and into the northeastern portion of the parish suggests operators are assessing broader geological targets within the Haynesville Shale formation.

The seismic 3D graphing project, active across a 310-square-mile area mostly in Natchitoches Parish, supports this expanded exploration strategy. This extensive subsurface mapping work indicates operators are preparing detailed geological models across a much larger footprint than the initial Robeline Field concentration.

Landowners approached with lease offers or seismic survey requests should understand the complexity and long-term consequences of these agreements. If you are not an expert in oil and gas matters, strongly consider contacting a qualified oil and gas attorney before signing any documents. Mineral leases can have significant implications for mineral rights, royalty structures, surface rights and future property use. Professional legal guidance is essential to ensure fair terms and protect your interests.

A review of Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court records confirms the 76 leases filed in May 2026. The NPJ obtained this information directly from the parish’s online Public Records system.

Total Leases filed in calendar year 2025: 405
Total Leases filed in calendar year 2026: 279

---

The Louisiana Legislature passed SB 121 Thursday, sending a new congressional map to Governor Jeff Landry for his signature following months of debate prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the state’s previous district lines.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais found that the previous map unconstitutionally prioritized race over traditional redistricting principles such as compactness and communities of interest. The new map was drawn without race as the predominant factor in determining district boundaries.

The legislation creates five Republican-leaning congressional districts statewide. A review of the enacted map shows that some parishes are split between congressional districts. 

For Caddo and Bossier parishes, both remain unified within the Fourth Congressional District alongside De Soto, Red River, Natchitoches, Sabine, Webster, Claiborne, and Bienville parishes. Central Louisiana, including Rapides Parish, is kept whole within the Fifth Congressional District.

The map now heads to the Governor for signature. If signed, it will govern Louisiana’s congressional representation through the remainder of the decade.

The Shreveport-Bossier Journal will continue to monitor developments.

@import url(‘https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Playfair+Display:wght@600;700&family=Source+Serif+4:ital,wght@0,400;1,400&display=swap’); *, *::before, *::after { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { font-family: ‘Source Serif 4’, Georgia, serif; background: #f7f4ef; color: #1a1a1a; padding: 2.5rem 2rem; } .container { max-width: 1100px; margin: 0 auto; } .header { border-top: 6px solid #1a1a1a; border-bottom: 1px solid #1a1a1a; padding: 1.2rem 0 1rem; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; } .pub-name { font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, Georgia, serif; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #555; } .headline { font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0.35rem 0 0.25rem; color: #1a1a1a; } .subhead { font-size: 1rem; color: #666; font-style: italic; } .dateline { font-size: 0.9rem; letter-spacing: 0.12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #888; margin: 0.8rem 0 1.4rem; border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; padding-bottom: 0.6rem; } /* TABLE ONLY — larger fonts */ table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1.35rem; } thead tr { background: #1a1a1a; color: #f7f4ef; } thead th { font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, Georgia, serif; font-weight: 600; font-size: 1.1rem; letter-spacing: 0.12em; text-transform: uppercase; padding: 1rem 1.3rem; text-align: left; } tbody tr { border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; } tbody tr:hover { background: #efe9de; } tbody tr:nth-child(even) { background: #f0ece5; } tbody tr:nth-child(even):hover { background: #efe9de; } td { padding: 1.1rem 1.3rem; vertical-align: middle; line-height: 1.6; font-size: 1.25rem; } td:first-child { white-space: nowrap; width: 140px; } .district-badge { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background: #1a1a1a; color: #f7f4ef; font-family: ‘Playfair Display’, Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; width: 2.2rem; height: 2.2rem; border-radius: 50%; } .parishes { color: #333; } .footnote { margin-top: 1rem; font-size: 0.85rem; color: #888; font-style: italic; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; padding-top: 0.6rem; }

---

---

If every disagreement turns into a critique of how you communicate, the real problem may be what you’re not resolving—here’s how to break the cycle and start working as a team.

 See what Ida says 

---

When you hear ‘Peach Festival’, you may picture baskets of fuzzy peaches, maybe a peach cobbler bake-off, or even a parade. But here in Ruston, the Louisiana Peach Festival is so much more than just a celebration of our locally grown fruit. It is a time to experience the rich tradition and culture that can only be found in our small historic town. Residents and visitors alike come for this special day, filled with activities that keep people coming back year to year. This year’s Peach Festival in Ruston is Saturday, June 6.

Here are 5 ways that the Peach Festival exceeds just peach appreciation (although, we love our peaches too):

1. A Love Letter to Louisiana Culture

Area artists, vendors, musicians, and makers are the forefront of what makes this festival thrive. Browsing our curated arts market with 90+ artists of all mediums allows you to get a glimpse into the vibrant arts of our state. And you can’t miss the music! Louisiana-based musicians play on the Railroad Park Stage to ensure the spirit of the festival carries on into the night. Celebrate our Louisiana roots with us, and dive into what makes our culture so unique.

2. The Food Scene Goes Full Peach (In the Best Way Possible)

Here in Ruston, we pride ourselves on the quality and diversity of our local restaurants and food trucks. The creativity of Ruston’s culinary scene is unmatched, and the sweet peach flavor is no exception. In the week leading up to the festival, 30+ local restaurants come together for the Peach Culinary Crawl, featuring unexpected dishes, drinks, and pairings. From a peach caprese turkey melt to a pint of locally-brewed peach wheat ale, indulge your tastebuds with this staple, seasonal ingredient.

3. It Still Holds Tight to Its Sweet Southern Traditions

Of course, it would not be a southern festival without all of the classic contests and exhibits. The Peach Pageant, Peach Parade, Antique Car Show, Peach Rodeo, Peach Art Exhibit, and Cookery Contest are all ways that the community engages with the roots of the festival. These fun traditions have been happening for generations, and plan to stay for many, many more. The Ruston community continues to add to these celebrations, with sidewalk sales, a 5K race, and even a Pickleball Tournament. All these traditions keep the festival feeling like a small town gathering, keeping it close to the hearts of our residents and visitors.

4. It’s One of the Few Festivals Where You Don’t Feel Nickel-and-Dimed

The Peach Festival prides itself on having free admission, making it accessible for a Saturday full of activities. In Kids Alley, there are no paid vendors, allowing all kiddos to enjoy hands-on crafts, games, entertainment, and more festival activities. It is the perfect opportunity to bring the family out for fun that won’t break the bank. Our goal is to make the festival easy and accessible for all ages to enjoy!

5. It Feels More Like a Community Gathering Than a Carnival

No flashy rides or ferris wheels here – the Peach Festival provides something even more memorable. Surrounded by the painted murals of downtown, local organizations, and all the friendly volunteers, it’s easy to feel like a part of the Ruston community that we know and love. With festivities happening from morning to late into the night, you have plenty of time to experience the festival at your own pace. So bring out your lawn chair, grab a bite, listen to the music, and enjoy all the sights and sounds of our community. 

The traditions, culture, and hospitality surrounding this celebration reminds us that this isn’t just a festival, but a signature kind of Southern experience you don’t find everywhere. The peach flavor is just the tip of the iceberg to all of the sweetness of peach season in Ruston, LA. 

For more information on the 76th Annual Louisiana Peach Festival and to see the full schedule of events, visit www.lapeachfest.com/. 

---

Fifty years ago, a much younger, much more nervous version of me stepped into a pulpit for the very first time. My sermon was too long, my theology was too thin, and my confidence was too high for someone who had no idea what he was doing. In other words, I fit right in with every preacher who ever lived.

Half a century later, I stand amazed — not only that God has been faithful, but that congregations have been too. Some of them even stayed awake. If you want to understand humanity, don’t study psychology. Don’t read philosophy. Just preach weekly for fifty years and watch what happens in the pews.

I’ve seen:

People sleeping so soundly during my sermons that I considered checking for a pulse. One gentleman snored in perfect rhythm with the Doxology. I took it as a compliment. Parents losing control of toddlers who suddenly discovered their spiritual gift was interpretive dance in the center aisle. Teenagers communicating entirely by eyeroll, a language I now speak fluently. Peppermint unwrappers — the saints who believe they can open a candy “quietly,” which somehow takes seven minutes and sounds like a raccoon rummaging through aluminum siding. Folks, at this point in my ministry, I beg you: grip it and rip it. The Lord already knows.

After fifty years, I owe some congregations an apology. Not for theology, not for leadership decisions, not for pastoral missteps — though I’ve had my share of those — but for some truly lousy sermons. There were sermons that wandered. Sermons that limped. Sermons that should have been humanely euthanized. Sermons that were so confusing even I wasn’t sure what I meant.

To the churches who endured them: Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your grace. And thank you for not forming a search committee.

Through it all — the laughter, the tears, the baptisms, the funerals, the potlucks, the revivals, the meetings that should’ve been emails — I have been surrounded by people who loved Jesus and tried their best to love one another.

I’ve watched congregations rally around the grieving, celebrate the newly married, welcome the newborn, and feed the hungry. I’ve seen the church at its most beautiful: ordinary people doing extraordinary things because Christ lives in them.

Fifty years of ministry has taught me this: Following Jesus is less about perfection and more about direction. Less about knowing all the answers and more about trusting the One who does. Less about preaching great sermons and more about living a faithful life.

I’ve stumbled, learned, grown, laughed, cried, and kept walking — because Jesus kept leading. And somehow, by grace alone, I’ve made it to this milestone.  If the next years bring more sleeping saints, more peppermint concerts, more toddlers on the loose, and more holy moments of grace — I’ll count myself blessed.

Thank you for letting me preach, love, learn, and laugh among you. Thank you for fifty years of community. Thank you for walking with me as I’ve tried to walk with Christ. And if you happen to fall asleep during this article, I’ll take that as a sign of spiritual peace.

---

Today’s kids are booked, busy, and burned out—but one parent is asking if it’s time to bring back a simpler, slower kind of childhood.

 See what Ida says 

---

In April 1969, Gaynor Hopkins’s aunt heard her singing in her bedroom and entered her in a local talent competition.  She was nervous and excited.  The song she chose was the chart topper “Those Were the Days,” made popular by Mary Hopkin.  It was the first time the 17-year-old had ever used a real microphone.  Gaynor did not win the talent show but came in second place to an accordion player.  People at the talent show praised Gaynor for her vocal delivery and sweet voice.  The following week, Gaynor saw an advertisement in her local newspaper in which a singer named Bobby Wayne was looking to hire three female backup singers.  The ad said, “No experience needed, training [would be] given.”  Winning second in the talent show gave Gaynor the confidence to audition.  Out of the 34 girls who auditioned, Gaynor was one of the three selected.  For two years, she performed with Bobby Wayne and the Dixies.  There was a problem.  Gaynor Hopkins resembled and sounded like Mary Hopkin, and people often confused the two.  Gaynor said she never really liked her name, so she took the opportunity to change it.  She adopted her niece’s first name, added a common last name, and became Sherene Davis.  She performed under that name with her own band called Imagination.

In 1975, Gaynor was performing with her band at a local hotspot called “The Townsman” which was in a multi-story building.  Talent scout Roger Bell went to the building to see Vic Oakley sing, but he went to the wrong floor by mistake.  Roger liked what he heard and invited Gaynor to London to record a demo.  That demo led to a contract with RCA Records.  Gaynor released her first single in 1976, but it was a flop.  Her second, “Lost in France,” fared much better, then there was another career setback.  After suffering with a sore throat, Gaynor’s doctor said she needed surgery to remove nodules from her vocal cords.  In the spring of 1977, her doctor said the operation was a success and her voice would return to normal if she remained completely silent for the six-week recovery period.  He instructed her to communicate only by writing.  Gaynor, a self-proclaimed chatterbox, tried but failed and strained her voice.  Her doctor explained that the damage was irreversible. 

Gaynor had years left on her contract with RCA, so they brought her in for another recording session.  After singing the first six words of a song in the studio, everyone involved was worried.  The sweetness was replaced with a huskiness.  RCA released the song as a single in November 1977 only after the song’s producer and songwriters threatened to terminate their contracts with RCA.  To RCA’s surprise, the song rose to the top 10 in 20 countries and to the number one spot in 8 of those countries.  That song was “It’s a Heartache.”  Gaynor had many other hit songs including “Holding Out for a Hero” and “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”  When Gaynor signed her contract with RCA, they stipulated that Gaynor change her stage name from Sherene Davis to something that sounded less like a belly dancer.  She bought two newspapers from which she listed all the Christian names and surnames.  She tried many different combinations until she found one that suited her.  You may never have heard the names Gaynor Hopkins or Sherene Davis, but the world knows her as Bonnie Tyler. 

Sources:

1.     Abby Morgan, “Bonnie Tyler: ‘The older you get, the less you have to prove,’’’ Leicestershire Press, July 10, 2023, accessed May 10, 2026, https://leicestershirepress.com/2023/07/10/bonnie-tyler-the-older-you-get-the-less-you-have-to-prove/.

2.     “33.1/3^rd,” Record Collector, December 28, 2023, accessed May 10, 2026, https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/33-1-3rd-8.

3.     Goldmine Contributors, “Bonnie Tyler feels ‘The Best Is Yet To Come,’” Goldmine: the Music Collector’s Magazine, May 27, 2021, accessed May 10, 2026, https://www.goldminemag.com/interviews/pop/power-ballad-singer-bonnie-tyler-feels-the-title-is-perfect-for-her-latest-album-the-best-is-yet-to-come/.

---