By Reba Phelps

My friend, Sandra Williams, has a story of generational blessings and no one can tell it better than her. She lived it and so did her daughter and granddaughter.

I don’t really know how to start it off so I will just tell the story.

In 1979 I was divorced. I found myself as a single mom of a three-year-old. I was working as an Office Administrator at Kisatchie Legal Services. The job did not pay much so I had to take a second job working at Fred’s. I also worked on my lunch break and weekend nights at my dad’s restaurant, Blake’s Drive Inn, to support myself and my daughter. In 1980 I was offered a better paying job at the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, but because the courts were not kind to me only awarding me $100 a month in child support, I continued to work weekends at my dad’s and holidays at the store. It was a struggle but I was blessed to have a very supportive family who helped out as much as they could.

My daughter loved to play softball. She started playing at the age of six with Dixie Youth. Little did I know that being on the softball field every Tuesday and Thursday would prepare her for a promising future. She continued to play third base all through high school. She was known as the home run hitter. She made 1 st team All-District every year
and was even the Cenla Player of the Year her senior year. I began to worry about how I would pay for college (of course she did not want to go, she wanted to go to technical college for cosmetology).

I said, “No we will find a way, you’re going to college, you can go to cosmetology school
later, but get your degree first.”

My worries were coming to an end as I suddenly had the opportunity to temporarily lease my house to some friends who moved from New Orleans. Needless to say I was in debt over my head and charging whatever I needed to just get by. I thought this would give me a chance to send my daughter to school and catch up on some of the overdue bills. I asked my mom if we could move in with her for a while. My mom agreed.  I moved in and leased my house. Even though I was embarrassed having to do this, I realized it was the only way to save my house, so I did it. My mom made me feel welcome and I still have no regrets.

My daughter’s efforts and God’s mercy paid off in a big way. We were contacted by a few coaches who wanted her to play softball. When she received a full scholarship offer to Northwestern State University our prayers had been answered. She also was an excellent student who received an academic award and Tops. I did not have to pay anything for her to attend college. She received her degree without any loans to pay back. Now, that is what I called blessed beyond measure.

My friends from New Orleans stayed a little longer than planned. At the time I did not think of it as a blessing to have to move back in the house with my mom, but it really was a huge blessing in disguise. I was able to help her pay down her bills and I was blessed enough to have saved enough money to move back into my own house. I was even able to have some much needed renovations, buy new furniture and appliances (since all of mine were stolen from my storage house). Life was not easy but as a single mom I was determined to do whatever I needed to do to ensure my daughter’s future. God took care of us.

Another blessing was my granddaughter. My daughter got pregnant her senior year in college. Because she was a softball player the baby stayed with me. When my daughter finished college she moved away, then came back for a while and moved to Texas. The plan was for me to keep the baby until she got on her feet, but because we did not have family to help out with the baby it was just better for her to stay with me a while so she wouldn’t have to spend most of her life in daycare. Well, the years went by really fast and the next thing we knew she was going to elementary school, then junior high and high school. She followed in her mom’s footsteps and started playing softball at the age
of 5. Can I say history repeated itself in a good way? She was blessed to earn an athletic and academic scholarship to Southern University to play softball. She graduated in 2019 with no student loans to pay back. She is now attending graduate school at Southern University.

So life is good. Yes, I had to make a lot of sacrifices for my family, but I have no regrets and would do it all over again if I had to.

Because of my blessing, I try to be a blessing to others in whatever way I can. “I lift my eyes unto the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:1-2

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It’s a sad time of year for most bass anglers as the spawn is over and the fish are in transition back to their summer haunts. It’s the time of year anglers call “post spawn.” The fishing can be pretty tough but there’s also a feeding period at this time for bass as they fatten up from the weight they lost during the spawn. The spawn takes a lot out of bass physically and they need time to recover. This is also the time of the year when the shad spawn kicks in. Funny how Mother Nature knows exactly how and when to make things happen. Her timing is impeccable and with the shad in their spawning stage now, this allows the bass to feed up and recover quicker.

So where can you find the bass after the spawn? Well, you might want to start looking at the same place you looked when they were in the pre-spawn stage which is mainly the first drop off headed back out to deeper water. Understand that the first drop might be as small as a one-foot break line, or it could be the first 5-to-10-foot drop. Deepwater drop off is relative to what lake you’re fishing. For example, the Red River the first drop might only be the first two-foot break line off the bank. But on Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn, it could be the first 10 to 15 foot drop off the bank. Every lake is different but any slight change in depth is all it takes to hold fish, but this gives you a starting point to look.              

Another place to look, the boat docks; especially docks close to deeper water. Bass like to get next to something vertical for some reason and I don’t know why. Boat docks that are on main lake points are great places to look for bass after the spawn. Another feature to look for is brush tops around the boat docks. These make great places to fish because brush tops usually hold bait fish for the bass to feed on whether it’s shad or bream. Bass really go after the bream this time of year as the bream pull into the shallows and spawn after the bass are done. This is a great time to throw bream-colored baits like green pumpkin, watermelon/red and just about anything with green flakes will work like the color called Junebug.

I cannot state enough how tough the bass fishing can be this time of year. But once the bass recover and get into their summer patterns, bass fishing will improve. Now is also the time when the big 10- and 12-inch worms (like the V&M Wild Thang) become a big player in catching bass. Deep diving crank baits are also a great choice as some bass will pull out and suspend over deeper water. Chartreuse and blue or shad colored crankbaits are a good choice depending on watercolor. Small ¼ oz. spinnerbaits thrown in shallow water will also catch bass as the small blades tend to match the hatch of the shad spawn.

I hope this helps you understand the dynamics of what anglers call the “post spawn” and where you can expect the bass to be. Just like any other time of year, you just have to go into search mode and figure it out. But hopefully, I’ve given you an idea of where to start your search for the largemouth bass. Till next time, don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf
Owner/Co-host
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show
And Tackle Talk Live

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In the aftermath of heavy rains that have hit Louisiana this week, wildlife species will seek higher ground and be displaced into a habitat with which they may not be familiar. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) urges the public to be especially cognizant of wildlife forced into populated areas by floodwater from the storm.
 
Rising waters force wildlife from flooded habitat into adjacent residential and commercial areas where they may come into contact with residents. LDWF urges citizens to minimize contact with animals while they seek temporary refuge from their flooded home range.
 
Wild animals not posing a threat to humans should be left alone and should not be fed. Feeding wild animals will encourage those animals to remain in the vicinity of a new food source when they should be allowed to find natural habitat and food sources on their own.
 
Basic Tips:
* Avoid areas where displaced wildlife has taken refuge.
* Avoid interaction with and do not feed displaced wildlife.
* Avoid roadways near flooded areas to reduce the likelihood of disturbance and collisions with wildlife.
 
 
Species of Concern:
 
 
Black Bears:  The Louisiana black bear is a species of concern during a flood incident when high water moves bear out of their habitat. For assistance with black bears that may be forced into populated areas by floodwaters, call 1-337-262-2080.
 
Alligators, Snakes: Floodwaters will carry reptiles into populated areas where they may not normally be noted in significant numbers. Following the impact of floodwaters, exercise extreme caution when salvaging possessions from flooded areas. Wildlife, especially reptiles, may remain in flooded areas and pose a safety threat.
 
Venomous snake species in Louisiana include the canebrake rattlesnake, the copperhead, the cottonmouth, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the harlequin coral snake, the pygmy rattlesnake and the Texas coral snake. 
 
Deer, Feral Hogs: Deer and feral hog populations represent the two large quadruped species that may appear in populated areas in significant numbers as floodwaters move wild animals out of natural habitat. As is the case with all wild animals, how these species will react to humans in close contact situations is unpredictable. LDWF recommends allowing these species, when sighted individually or in groups, to move unimpeded through flooded areas as they seek higher ground.

For more information on nuisance or displaced wildlife, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/nuisance-wildlife-control-and-removal

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The Winn Parish School Board has IMMEDIATE  opportunities for substitute school bus drivers.

Requirements: Class A or B CDL with Passenger, School Bus, and Air Brakes endorsements (obtained through OMV)

Winn Parish will host a 30-hour pre-service training for school bus drivers at the Winn Parish School Board Office June 21-23. This course is one of the requirements for becoming a licensed/certified school bus driver. Anyone interested in applying for a position as a substitute, activity, or regular route driver must have this training. The course will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. each day.

For more information or to register please contact:
Al Simmons
asimmons@winnpsb.org
OR
Marianne Little
mlittle@winnpsb.org

Winn Parish School Board
304 E. Court
Winnfield, LA 71483
318 628 6936

Winn Parish School Board is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Claude Luther O’Bryan from Winnfield, LA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at Riverside Hospital in Alexandria at the age of 84.

Claude L. was born August 22, 1936, to Lorice Burnum O’Bryan Cole and Claude O’Bryan of Calvin, La. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sydney O’Bryan, brother, Connor Atherton, great-grandchild, and wife Wanda Sue O’Bryan.

Growing up Claude was an avid outdoorsman where he enjoyed gardening, raising cattle and horses, and hog hunting. He was an outstanding basketball player for Calvin High School and remained a loyal Calvin Cougar throughout his life. He joined the Louisiana National Guard after graduating high school. Claude L worked in many industries throughout life including, farming, ranching, oil field, telephone company, and trucking. He owned his own trucking business before he retired.

Claude L., or as some have called him, “Mr. Winnfield”, dedicated many years to his community. He could always be seen in his standard outfit: a pair of overalls, a pearl-snap shirt, boots, a cowboy hat, and a cigar. He enjoyed riding around town in his truck with his dog. After retiring, he offered downtown horse-drawn wagon rides for the community to see the Christmas lights while singing Christmas carols. He served Winn Parish in many capacities by volunteering his time, coordinating events, holding positions on local boards, and being the one who knew the background of many activities and organizations. No matter where you ran into him, he always had a story to share. Claude L served on the Winn Parish Fair Board, Winn Riding Club Board, helped establish the Winn Parish Hog Hunters Association, served on the local Chamber of Commerce, and helped hold down the roundtable at the “coffee shop” uptown. The one thing that most people will remember Claude L for is his creation, followed by his heart and soul dedication for the continuation of the event that has become the “Super Bowl” of hog baying, “Uncle Earl’s Hog Dog Trials” held yearly in March.

Claude L was a dedicated Christian who was quick to bring out his Bible and pray for you or with you. He fulfilled his life by being a loving husband, brother, uncle, cousin and father, but his favorite role throughout life was his dedication to those who called him “Papaw.”

Survivors include daughter Debbie Connor of Jonesboro, stepson Cullen Nugent (Kayla) of Sevierville, TN, brother Donnis O’Bryan (Polly) of Shreveport, LA, sister-in-laws, Sandra O’Bryan of Milton, GA, and Elanore Rowe of Shreveport, La, and his grandchildren, (the pride and joys of his life), Randa Connor (Greg) of Winnfield, LA, Colby Nugent (Holly) of Wears Valley, TN, Colton Nugent (Elizabeth) of Seymour, TN and Kaytlen Nugent of Sevierville, TN and great-grandchild, Brooklyn Nugent of Sevierville, TN.

Claude L leaves behind treasured family members and friends that will sadly miss him.

Visitation will be held at Southern Funeral Home in Winnfield, LA Friday, May 21, 2021, 5 pm-8 pm. Graveside services will be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Calvin, LA Saturday, May 22, 2021, at 10 am with Reverend Lamar Carpenter and Reverend Bobby Bates officiating.

Pallbearers will be Billy Joe Huff, Kelly Lee, Colby Nugent, Colton Nugent, Cullen Nugent, Ronald O’Bryan and Greg Williams, Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Burnum, Jay Cloud, Jerry Cloud, Leroy James, Cecil O’Bryan, Donald O’Bryan, Donnis O’Bryan, George O’Bryan, James O’Bryan, William Howard O’Bryan, Gary Scobee, Sam Watson and the dedicated members of the Uncle Earl’s Hog Dog Trials Board.

“Oh the last goodbyes are the hardest ones to say, and this is where the cowboy rides away.” -George Strait

Go Rest High, Cowboy, for your work here is done.

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WINN:
Bill W. Sanders
December 21, 1940 – May 19, 2021
Service: Sunday, May 23 at 3 pm at Goldonna Cemetery

Claude L. O’Bryan
August 22, 1936 – May 18, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 10 am at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Calvin

Earnestine Durahm
May 10, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 11 am at the Winnfield Funeral Home, located at 117 MLK Drive in Winnfield

NATCHITOCHES:
Henry Braxton
May 18, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Doretha Charles
May 18, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 1 pm at the Abundant Life Ministries Church on Ben Drive in Natchitoches

BJ Miller
September 05, 1998 – May 14, 2021
Service: Friday, May 21 at 10 am at the First Baptist Church Provencal

Charles R. Rushing
May 14, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 2 pm at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

Dan P. Roberson
May 12, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 11 am at Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North St. in Natchitoches

Margaret Carter Cooper
November 2, 1961 – May 10, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Phillip Lloyd Gillis
March 13, 1968 – April 29, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 29, 2021 from 1-5 pm at the home of Ryan and Bekah French Home, located at 1615 Williams Ave. in Natchitoches

SABINE:
Griffin H. Warren
February 28, 1933 – May 18, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 2 pm at First Baptist Church of Zwolle

RED RIVER:
Billy Roy Wren
May 02, 1954 – May 18, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 11 am at Creston Baptist Church

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Flash Flood Watch

National Weather Service Shreveport LA
421 AM CDT Wed May 19 2021

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING…

The Flash Flood Watch continues for * Portions of southwest Arkansas, Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and Texas, including the following areas, in southwest Arkansas, Columbia, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, and Sevier. In Louisiana, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, De Soto, Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Webster, and Winn. In southeast Oklahoma, McCurtain. In Texas, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Upshur, and Wood.

* Through Thursday morning *

Additional rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches with isolated higher amounts of 3 inches or more possible.

* Flooding may occur in urban and poor drainage areas. Heavy rainfall may also cause flooding of creeks, streams, and rivers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to Flash Flooding. Flash Flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

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Name: Kayla Denell Nugent
Date: 5-11-2021
Race: White
Gender: Female
Age: 37
Charge: Criminal Trespass

Name: Brandie Nicole Mendieta
Date: 5-11-2021
Race: White
Gender: Female
Age: 37
Charge: Illegal Possession of Stolen Things

Name: Jake Leon Jefferson
Date: 5-12-2021
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Age: 39
Charge: Possession Of Schedule II Drug with Intenet to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intenet to Distribute, Possession of Schedule I Drug with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Schedule IV Drug with Intent to Distribute
Arresting Agency: Louisiana State Police

Name: David Cardett Hollingsworth
Date: 5-13-2021
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Age: 30
Charge: Theft, Unauthorized Entry of a Place of Business

Name: Daniel Jordan Norris
Date: 5-13-2021
Race: 
Gender: 
Age: 
Charge: Possession of Firearm By a Felon or Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Reckless Operation w/Accident, Illegal Carrying of a Weapon, Possession of Schedule I Drugs, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Name: Jerrod Demarcus Powell
Date: 5-13-2021
Race: White
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Charge: Alteration/Removal of Vin Numbers Prohibited

Name: Evan Okee Sampson
Date: 5-13-2021
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Age: 26
Charge: Possession of Marijuana, Possession Of Schedule II Drug, Obstruction to Drivers View or Driving

Name: Dwight L. Moody, Jr.
Date: 5-18-2021
Race: White
Gender: Male
Age: 55
Charge: Domestic Abuse Battery

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Career Fair tomorrow

Thursday, May 20, 2021 | 5:30 pm
CLTCC – Huey P. Long Campus
5960 Highway 167 North | Winnfield, Louisiana

Make a Great Start with RoyOMartin.

Join us for a hiring event for production team members at RoyOMartin’s plywood and timbers plant in Chopin, Louisiana. Jobseekers should bring a resume, as company representatives will be conducting on-site interviews

Competitive Wages

Starting pay is $14.50/hr., with the potential to earn up to $22.50/hr. through on-­the-job training.

Exceptional Benefits

Enjoy terrific medical benefits, including a health clinic, as well as life insurance, retirement, wellness program, and a variety of training and advancement opportunities.

A Commitment to Safety

Employee safety and wellbeing are our #1 priority. Our award-­winning safety program begins on Day 1 with new-hire orientation.

RoyOMartin.com/Careers

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Atmos Energy has started its System Integrity Investment Program (SIIP) to systematically replace vintage pipe and other material in order to improve the integrity and reliability of its natural gas service. Our contractors and company personnel will be working on the following SIIP project(s) in your area:

1. Winnfield: West Main Street – Installing approximately 315 feet 2-inch HDPE main 1 ¾-inch HDPE service along West Main St.

We will notify customers located in each project area before any work begins.  Please feel free to contact Ann Hayward, Manager of Public Affairs for your area at (318) 669-0567 or Ann.Hayward@atmosenergy.com if you or any of your constituents should have any questions or concerns about our work. Atmos Energy is committed to providing its customers with safe and reliable natural gas service.  We hope that our system improvement efforts cause minimal disruptions to residents in your area.

The goal of Atmos Energy is to be the safest natural gas distributor in the nation. Since 2007, we have invested more than $5 billion dollars to renew and expand our distribution and transmission pipelines and to improve customer safety and service throughout our operating territories in eight states. More than 70% of that capital spending has been dedicated to improving safety and reliability.

Emergency Numbers:  1-866-322-8667 or 9-1-1

IF YOU SUSPECT A NATURAL GAS LEAK IN YOUR HOME OR OUTSIDE,

LEAVE the area IMMEDIATELY and CALL ATMOS ENERGY from a safe distance.

Customer Service:  1-888-286-6700

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The Winn Parish School Board invites the Winn Parish community to a retirement celebration for Winn Parish School Board Superintendent Steve Bartlett.

The event will be held at CLTCC Huey P. Long Campus in Winnfield on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, from 3 PM to 5 PM.

After 47 years as an educator and 21 years as WPSB Superintendent Bartlett announced his retirement on April 6th. 

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If you ever wonder who keeps the Village of Goldonna running so smoothly you should probably know that they are comprised of a Mayor and a Board of Alderman. This week I want to introduce you to Alderman, Reed Franklin.

Mr. Franklin was raised in Goldonna by two parents who were educators. Mr. WH Franklin was an Agriculture teacher and Mrs. Esther Franklin was a third grade teacher. He followed in his father’s footsteps and majored in “Vocational Agricultural Education” at Louisiana Tech. Once he graduated he went to work for the USDA in several capacities all over the state. That was until the USDA out of Washington, DC began calling his name.

Mr. Franklin spent many years in DC and eventually moved back to his roots in Goldonna and was very excited to become part of the community again. He was originally appointed as Alderman replacing Rodney Bedgood when he took the Chief of Police position. It was all she wrote after that. Mr. Franklin ran for the position and has not been unseated since.

When I asked what was his favorite memory of growing up in Goldonna he quickly recalled the peaceful days of swimming at the Salt Works. If you are not familiar with the area I can attest to the fact that you may or may not see a gator on your visit. You would have also seen the most inviting rope swings that offered hours and hours of entertainment.

I was also very curious to know if money and resources were not an issue, what would his ultimate dream be for the community. Without hesitation he replied, “High Speed Internet, real high speed, not DSL or any other knock off, the speediest internet. Also, a Cell phone tower.”

That is two tall orders for Goldonna, but the internet is on the horizon with the investment being made by the Natchitoches Parish School Board. To say the community is eager would be a mere understatement. There is no doubt Mr. Franklin loves his job as Alderman and he loves seeing the progress that has been made over the year. The Goldonna Mayor agrees.

“Alderman Reed Franklin has been a member of the Goldonna town council for many years. He is able to bring his experiences from years past to the newer members of the board. We are striving to closer as a team to better serve the community. It is exciting to be a part of the different progresses that has been taking place in Goldonna,” shared Mayor Jennifer Smith.

Being a Public Servant can often be a thankless job but the community of Goldonna appreciates their representation and recognize that hard work benefits all of the residents.

Free Wednesday night suppers are still happening at Goldonna Baptist Church. The Kingdon Community meals start at 5:30 and end at 6:30. This week’s meal includes: jambalaya, corn, garlic bread, dessert and a drink. I do believe God must be multiplying the Tony Chachere Company’s donation. They have not run out yet!

If you have news you would like to contribute please email Reba Phelps jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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By: Brad Dison

Nancy Hanks was born on February 5, 1784, in what is now Antioch, West Virginia.  As with most women of the era, Nancy learned the required skills needed on the frontier.  She learned to cultivate crops, to cook what she grew, to make and mend clothing, and to read the Bible.  She eventually became known as an excellent seamstress.

On June 12, 1806, Nancy married a man named Thomas.  They had three children, a daughter followed by two sons, one of which died in infancy.  Thomas took whatever work he could find.  He worked odd jobs, and at different times worked as a farmer, carpenter, and cabinetmaker.  By all accounts, Nancy was superior to her husband.  She was mild tempered, caring, and intellectually inclined but not classically educated.  It was she who taught her surviving children to read and write.  Thomas could neither read nor write.  

Nancy and her family lived in southern Indiana, where it was exceptionally dry in the summer of 1818.  The cattle were unable to find enough grasses in the pastures on which to graze and went into wooded areas in search of food.  In the rich, moist soil just along the edge of the woods, the cattle found an abundance of plants to eat. One plant that the cattle grazed on was White Snakeroot.  With its fluffy, snow-white flowers which reached heights between 18-48 inches, White Snakeroot was an attractive and easy food source for the cattle.  

In September of 1818, a large number of people in the area began to sicken from an illness known by names such as puking fever, sick stomach, the slows, and the trembles.  Symptoms included loss of appetite, weakness, listlessness, muscle stiffness, vague pains, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, severe constipation, and, in the worst cases, coma before death.

Nancy went from house to house to help those who contracted the sickness.  Among those she helped was one of Nancy’s best friends, a Mrs. Brooner.  Nancy spent countless hours at Mrs. Brooner’s bedside.  Few people who contracted the illness survived.  Mrs. Brooner was sure she would die from the disease and expressed her concern to Nancy.  With a warm smile and a gentle touch, Nancy reassured her that she would soon recover.  Nancy meant well and did everything she could to comfort Mrs. Brooner as well as several other sick neighbors.

Nancy soon began to show symptoms of the sickness.  Within a short time, she became so unwell that she could no longer aid others.  Like her sick neighbors, Nancy was confined to her bed.  Nancy’s condition worsened with every passing day.  During that time, several of her neighbors, including Mrs. Brooner, died from the illness.  Nancy’s health continued to deteriorate, and she slipped into a coma.  On October 5, 1818, after suffering from the illness for about two weeks, Nancy died.  She was just 34 years old.

Preparing for a funeral on the frontier was difficult.  There was no funeral home in the area, and Thomas and his two children had to make all of the preparations for burial themselves.  Thomas’s eleven-year-old daughter took care of the household affairs while Thomas and his nine-year-old son-built Nancy’s coffin.  Thomas measured and cut planks while his son whittled pegs to hold the planks together.  They had no nails.  With the help of neighbors, Thomas and his son dug Nancy’s grave and held a short but meaningful graveside service for her.

What was this mysterious illness that killed Nancy and several of their neighbors?  Until the twentieth century, medical science had almost no understanding of this particular sickness.  Scientists discovered that the illness that struck many in southern Indiana in that summer of 1818 was what we now call “Milk Sickness.”  Nancy and her neighbors drank fresh milk from local cows who grazed on White Snakeroot, which is poisonous to humans but, evidently, not to cows.

Like Nancy, her son was intellectually inclined and self-educated.  He became a successful attorney and climbed the ladder of success.  He became a legislator, a U.S. Congressman, and then, President of the United States.  Nancy’s married name was Nancy Hanks Lincoln.  It was she who named her son… Abraham.

Sources:

1.  Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota), April 15, 1923, p.67.
2. “White Snakeroot: The Plant That Killed Abraham Lincoln’s Mother,” National Park Service, accessed May 12, 2021, https://www.nps.gov/abli/planyourvisit/milksickness.htm.

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By: Royal Alexander/Opinion

“If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more ‎violence.  If The Jews put down their weapons ‎today, there would be no ‎more Israel’.”  Benjamin Netanyahu

On May 14, 1948, 73 years ago, Israel became an independent nation state. It was soon attacked and has been ever since.  As rockets again rain down on Israel—a country of about 9 million that’s roughly the size of New Jersey—from the Gaza Strip the world is again confronted with a narrative that never changes:  much of the Middle East—and their proxies—seeks the annihilation of that country as an article of faith and first principle of their governments.

The current violence being imposed on Israel is being carried out by terror groups Hamas, the Iran-supported Palestinian militant group, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.  Over 1,800 rockets have been fired into the country in the last few days with most of them targeting Israeli civilians. (There would be far more harm done and deaths resulting without Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system which exists with U.S financial and technical support).

What we must understand is that Hamas runs the Palestinian government in Gaza even though every recent U.S. Administration, Republican or Democrat, has declared Hamas a terrorist organization.  So, this terrorist organization that is the elected government of Gaza is firing missiles and rockets into the civilian population of Israel. However, when Israel defends itself and responds Hamas often puts children in front of the targets it knows Israel is likely to attack so when they are killed Hamas can dishonestly appear to claim the moral high ground by accusing Israel of killing innocent children. This is truly sickening but a simple if grotesque summary of Israel’s Existence.

The Biden Administration has now ham-handedly responded with a call for “de-escalation” of this situation as though there is a moral equivalence between the unprovoked attacks on Israel by these terror groups and Israel’s unquestioned right to defend itself.   This new conflict reveals the stark contrast between the Trump Administration, which shepherded a number of historic peace agreements in the Middle East (and for which President Trump has received multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations), and the Biden Administration, which in 4 months has led to the outbreak of any war in the Middle East.

(The Biden Administration is modeling its Middle East policy after the Obama Administration which clearly and conspicuously favored Iran.  Recall President Obama’s disastrous nuclear “deal” in which Iran “committed” to halting its development of enriched uranium for at least 10 years. In return, it had strict economic sanctions lifted and received billions of dollars from the Obama Administration. This cash was very likely used by Iran to fund acts of terror, wars, and purchase weapons to kill Americans and Israelis.  This is all a fraud.  Iran cannot be trusted.  The only way to ensure that a perennially bad and dangerous actor like Iran stops developing nuclear weapons is to destroy its capability to do so and then closely monitor it).

Israel is simply unlike any of the U.S.’s other allies in the world and there are many reasons Americans Passionately love and support it.  Those Reasons include its ancient religious history and sacred role as the birthplace of Christianity and origin of the Judeo-Christian tradition.  Its eternal significance is founded on its connection and proximity to Christ’s birth, death, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven.  They also include God’s promise to Abraham that the Jews were His chosen people and that He would grant to Abraham and his descendants the land that is Israel today.  Lastly, Israel has always been America’s Strongest ally in the region and one of its strongest allies in the world.

The Biden Administration must quickly and clearly signal to the world that it will stand with Israel.  The U.S. cannot appear to accept that there is any moral equivalence between the actions of Israel and these terrorists.  There is none and America undermines its credibility in the world and weakens our trusted ally when it hesitates to decisively note and embrace this fact. As we learned from President Obama’s cowardly and impotent “red line “approach to Syria after it gassed its own people, when the U.S appears to hesitate between good and evil, evil forces like Hamas—and its sponsor, Iran—are emboldened.

The views and opinions expressed in the My Opinion article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Winn Parish Journal. Any content provided by the authors is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

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