The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) of Natchitoches is pleased to announce its annual fundraising gala, to be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Natchitoches Events Center. This special evening will feature Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life, as the keynote speaker.

Clapper has been a leading voice for pro-life values across the state and brings a deep understanding of the policies and partnerships that shape maternal health in Louisiana. His message will highlight the critical need for continued support of pregnancy resource centers like WRC and the positive impact such support has on women, children, and families.

This year’s gala also celebrates WRC’s recent designation as an official Maternal Wellness Center by the Louisiana Department of Health, recognizing its commitment to providing comprehensive care including pregnancy testing, prenatal and parenting education, emotional and spiritual support, and material assistance.

Supporters now have an even greater incentive to give: the new Louisiana Maternal Wellness Center Tax Credit offers a 50% state income tax credit for eligible donations made to certified Maternal Wellness Centers like WRC. This means that a gift of $1,000 could result in a $500 reduction in state income taxes, allowing donors to make a significant impact while receiving meaningful tax benefits.

“This is more than just a gala—it’s a night of celebration, purpose, and powerful partnership,” said K. Nicole Woods, Executive Director of WRC. “We are on a mission to be a mission, and now, thanks to this new tax credit, our community can partner with us in a deeper, more sustainable way.”

Proceeds from the gala will directly support WRC’s life-affirming services and educational programming for women and families throughout Natchitoches and the surrounding region.

To purchase tickets, become a sponsor, or learn more about the Louisiana Maternal Wellness Center Tax Credit, visit http://www.wrcnatchitoches.org or call (318) 357-8888.

I have watched with interest the negative attacks in response to the American Eagle ad featuring actress Sydney Sweeney modeling, in an attractive and alluring manner, the company’s blue jeans. It seems quite routine. Thousands of such ads hawking every kind of product are run every day in America.

So, what sparked the controversy?

As the ad concludes, Sweeney looks at the camera while a voice intones stating, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”  Apparently, the ad’s play on the word “genes” causes some viewers to think about the genetics of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman. “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My genes are blue,” Sweeney purrs in one video.  (I will save for another day addressing the damaging credo that “sex sells” in modern commercialism).

Critics have chosen to focus on her statement that she has great “genes” as somehow conveying negative stereotypes about race and beauty.  Some critics—who are always looking for something about which to be aggrieved—have viewed this clever phraseology as, somehow, a positive commentary on the discredited theory of eugenics which held that the human race could be improved by selective breeding.  Some have even deemed the ad “Nazi propaganda” and yet another example of “white supremacy.”

WOW. 

This strikes me as a typical overreaction by the Woke Left.  The whole point of hiring attractive people for commercial advertising is to motivate a potential buyer to somehow identify and connect with the model and the product.  It’s probably the most fundamental rule of advertising.

The Sweeney ad expresses a classic American view of beauty and attractiveness, yet we are attacked by the Cancel Culture for our personal tastes—for believing that beauty can be reflected, and appreciated, in a white, blonde-haired, blued-eyed, all-American looking girl. 

However, no one is suggesting that white, blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls are the only example of feminine beauty.  There are as many versions of feminine beauty as there are eyes to behold it.  Yet, we are simply not allowed to express “unapproved” views.

America has spent 150 years striving mightily to rid itself of all classifications based upon the immutable characteristics of race and gender. However—in a complete and glaring contradiction—the Looney Left continues to demand that every assessment of every individual American be based not upon character or merit, but solely upon identity.  That is the very last thing that needs to happen in a nation like ours that has sworn to abide by—and many have died defending—the principle that we are truly equal under law. 

Fortunately, thanks to President Trump, Wokeism, and its most virulent strain, Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (DIE), are on their death knell.   While no one else is required to share our thoughts and beliefs, in a free society, we are allowed to hold and express them.  Otherwise, certain groups—the Thought Police—take it upon themselves to decide what speech or expression is “hate filled” and “offensive” and that quickly becomes a slippery slope because every single one of us has a different idea about what is offensive and unacceptable. 

The Cancel Culture seeks, through the use of intimidation, bullying and violence, to “cancel” those with whom they disagree from their very participation in our society, and in the most violent examples, to literally ‘cancel’ the lives of those with whom they disagree. 

This kind of censorship simply cannot be allowed if our Republic—and the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution—are to endure.  The greatest virtue of free thought and free speech is that all kinds of ideas are thrust into the rough and tumble of the marketplace of ideas where the best idea prevails.  It is this collision of, this testing of, speech and thought in a free and open exchange that produces the best results—and leads the nation to wise and popular policy results on challenging national issues.

Syndey Sweeney may have great jeans or great genes, or neither, or both.  We are all supposed to be free to decide for ourselves.  

Most encouraging is that American Eagle has made clear it is not going to apologize for the ad and it’s not going to be cancelled for not doing so. 

Bravo.  This is an important first step in slaying the dragon of Woke-ism and Cancel Culture and returning America to our Judeo-Christian roots and virtues.

Royal Alexander

Over my many years of fishing lakes all across this country, I’ve had a few bad encounters with dock owners, but never had I been told by a public official that I couldn’t fish in a particular area. Today, I’ll tell you about an incident that I experienced on a public body of water in Texas. 

With every passing day, anglers’ rights to fish and navigate certain bodies of water is being threatened by different activist groups like PETA (People for Ethical Treat of Animals). 

For some reason, people who live on a public lake and own a dock think they have the right to tell an angler that he can’t fish around their dock. But legally, anglers can fish there because the dock itself is on a public body of water. You can own the dock, but you don’t own the water underneath it. 

This is a concept so many homeowners who live on a public body of water seem to have trouble comprehending. Look, if you don’t want people to fish your dock, then don’t build your dream home on the lake! I too live on a lake and never have I told any angler that they can’t fish my dock, even though I have plenty of brush (that I put there) that holds fish. 

But on a hot summer day on Lake Palestine a few weeks ago, I was fishing a two-day tournament. On Day 1 I weighed in 15.80 pounds of bass and was sitting in fourth place overall.

Let’s not forget that on Day 1 I lost a fish that was well over seven pounds off one specific boat dock. When the fish came off, I thought to myself that I might be able to catch that fish again on Day 2 since I did not get a good hookset on that fish. 

As Day 2 rolled around, it was apparent that the fish just were not biting the way they were on Day 1. So, with three fish in the live well at 10 that morning, I decided to go back to the dock where I had lost the seven-pounder the day before.

Running across the lake and into the pocket where this certain dock was located, I shut down and jumped up on the front deck to drop the trolling motor into the water. It was at this time that two Texas Game Wardens approached me. At first, I thought they were pulling up to do a routine boat and license check.

But no, that was not the case, as they proceeded to tell me that the pocket I wanted to fish was off limits for the day. At first, I asked if they were kidding, but they begrudgingly told me that due to a party on the main lake point, the entire pocket (1/4 mile long) was off limits for the day and that I would not be allowed to fish there. 

Standing on the front deck of my boat and in shock that I was having to leave because of a party, this did not sit well with me. I expressed my displeasure with the wardens’ request. They fully understood as they reiterated that this pocket was off limits. 

I could tell from the very beginning of my encounter with the wardens that they did not want to tell me this. But once again, it became evident that whoever was hosting the party on the point had a lot of financial influence. If there’s one thing that still holds true today, it is if you have the money, you can rule the world — or shut down a lake! 

After returning home, I did a little research and found out that in order to eliminate any section of a public lake, you must have a permit signed by the local lake authority before it’s legal. Knowing this earlier, I could have requested to see the permit. 

But being the good guy that I am, I just cooperated and moved on to a different part of the lake, even though six of my best boat docks were in this pocket that I was not allowed to fish on Day 2.

Did this cost me a win? Probably not, but it did possibly cost me a few places in the final standings as I dropped from 4^th to 9^th while being unable to fish my best six docks.

These confrontations are becoming more common place on lakes and waterways all across the country. It’s up to us as anglers to stand up for our rights to fish. So, the next time you’re confronted or being told a part of the lake is off limits, make sure to ask and see the permit that was granted by the local lake authority. Or maybe asked to see the cash that was given in order to block off a part of the lake! 

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and enjoy your time on the water, while you still can!

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

No deaths to report as of this edition, please check back next Wednesday, the 13th. Thank you.