The lockdown at Winnfield Middle School and Winnfield Senior High School was lifted Friday afternoon after authorities determined students and staff were safe, according to the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The schools were placed on lockdown shortly after noon Dec. 12 when more than 20 gunshots were heard while about 80 students were outside, the sheriff’s office said. All students were brought inside the buildings in less than 45 seconds, and deputies arrived within four minutes.

The shots were believed to have come from the Wood Duck Lane area, about a half-mile from the school campuses.

Winnfield principals Brian Savell and Chase Bartless, Sheriff Josh McAllister and Winn Parish Superintendent Troy Bell lifted the lockdown around 1:30 p.m.

The sheriff’s office said that at the time the lockdown was lifted, all students and staff were safe and accounted for. Additional officers remained at the campuses out of an abundance of caution.

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Rotarian of the Day, Melissa Trammell, arranged for director of the Winn Parish Library, Priscilla Massey, to visit with local Rotarians on December 3, 2025.

Ms. Massey posed the most common question asked by members of the public these days: are Brick and Mortar libraries now obsolete, in light of the current state of technology and the World Wide Web?

The answer, according to Massey, is a resounding NO!

Libraries today, including our Winn Parish Library, offer many more services and programming than just lending paper books to library card holders.

The WPL is an office/business where our citizens can conduct online research, access their email accounts, make copies, print documents, send faxes, use computers for reading news and other articles, read magazines in paper form and electronic form. It is also an information center for finding historical and genealogical information, as well as accessing the Louisiana Digital Library.

The Winn Parish Library has 5 branches in Atlanta, Calvin, Dodson, Sikes and Winnfield, where citizens can check out paper books as well as DVDs. The Atlanta, Calvin and Dodson branches collectively had over 25,000 library visits in the last year.

Each branch except Sikes offers in person special programming, and over 5000 people attended special programs at our library’s branches over the last year.

The Winnfield branch has a meeting room offered free to the public as long as it is reserved in advance. 

As technology advances, the library is investing more money in its digital and electronic resources than its physical assets. Those who have a library card can access various such resources onsite and remotely at Winnlibrary.org and select several services subscribed to by our library.

Winn Parish library cardholders who sign up for access to digital library services have access to over 60,000 publications through the GreenGold Library, a consortium of libraries in Louisiana which pool their electronic and audio collections to offer them to the cardholders of each library in the consortium. This library is accessible 24/7 to its users.

The Winn Parish Library in its various locations remains as essential and provides even more services and resources to the community than ever, especially to persons who lack computer and internet resources in their homes. Priscilla Massey encourages every citizen of Winn Parish to visit your local branch to learn about and make use of all available library resources.

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COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE (CDL) – BPCC, Natchitoches Campus

Program Overview

This course prepares students for employment as professional commercial drivers and follows all Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Entry-Level Driver Training rules, regulations, and guidelines. Classroom theory and behind-the-wheel training will cover topics such as DOT rules and regulations, pre-trip and post-trip inspections, backing and maneuvering, day and night driving on rural, urban, and interstate highways, trip planning, logging hours, coupling and uncoupling, handling cargo, and defensive driving.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be eligible to test for one of the following licenses:

• CDL Class A-tractor-trailer
• CDL Class B-straight truck

A contracted state-approved examiner administers the final skills test.

To be eligible for this course, students must meet all the criteria listed below before they can begin their CDL training:

• be at least 18 years of age;
• have a valid LA Driver’s License with no flags or blocks;
• pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical and drug screen; and
• obtain a CDL Class A Permit through the LA Office of Motor Vehicles.

Classes will be Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM for 6 weeks.

Cohort 3         Monday, January 12, 2026 – Friday, February 20, 2026

Cohort 4         Monday, March 2, 2026 – Friday, April 10, 2026

What’s required, overview and estimated costs: Click Here > bpcc.edu/CDL

Enroll Today: https://www.bpcc.edu/academics/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics/commercial-drivers-license

Sherie Moore
CDL Program Coordinator
smoore@bpcc.edu
318-951-4506

Vernon Sykes
CDL Instructor
vsykes@bpcc.edu
318-951-4506

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By Reba Phelps

The long waited Village of Goldonna’s Christmas in the Park Christmas Festival is happening this Saturday, Dec. 13.

Fundrsaiser’s are still underway to help cover the expenses of the Christmas in the Park Festival. The Village is hosting a Split the Pot that promises to split the winnings with one lucky winner. The price is $1 per ticket for a chance to win half of the total pot sold. Tickets can be purchased at The Store, Eugean Garner, Linda Dupree, or Reed Franklin. The drawing will be held at the end of the Festival.

The Christmas in the Park Parade will happen on Dec. 13 and the Village is looking for participants. Please contact Tanya Weaver at 318-413-4116 to register your float. They are accepting marching bands, beauty queens, politicians, churches and children’s marching groups.

There are still vendor spots available at the cost of $20. Please contact Barbara Stewart at 318-663-1383 or Sharlene Settle at 318-481-3153 to reserve your spot today.

The annual Goldonna Gingerbread House contest will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Town Hall.

Contest Categories:

3 and under – cookies
Pre-K and Kindergarten
1st-5th grades
6-12th grades
Adult

You can drop off your creations between 9-10 am on Dec. 13. You may also contact Sharlene Settle if you need to drop off at a different time. Peoples choice voting will take place all day during Christmas in the Park until 6 pm. Winners will be announced before the fireworks.

If you have news to share contact Reba Phelps at 318-332-4260 or jreba.phelps@gmail.com.

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Over the course of my lifetime after growing up as an athlete, very few people have had the impact that coaches have. Today I’m going to salute a man that literally changed my life – a man who many hold with high regard not just as a coach, but as a person.

Back in 1979, Northwestern State head football coach A.L. Williams, and my recruiter, coach Al Miller, offered me the opportunity to play on the Division 1 level and get a college degree. Like most 18-year-old’s, you don’t always appreciate the opportunities you’re offered until later in life.

While I had several offers from other schools, there was just something different when I made my official visit to Northwestern. Right off the bat, the NSU Demon football players involved in my recruiting trip were great guys who really welcomed me as I felt right at home with both players and coaches. 

Now understand, that when it comes to recruiting a player to any university, you’re going to see the best side of everyone involved as they will say and do anything to get a commitment from you.  But there was something different about my visit to NSU; it felt comfortable and it felt like home.

Coach Williams is a Louisiana high school and college coaching legend and is also a former legendary running back for Louisiana Tech University. As a coach at Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, he coached some of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game like former Arkansas Razorback and Buffalo Bills QB Joe Ferguson, on the heels of former Louisiana Tech and Pittsburgh Steeler QB Terry Bradshaw. 

Coach Williams, while at NSU, also groomed former USFL MVP (Michigan Panthers) and New Orleans Saints QB Bobby Hebert. I was truly proud to be a part of an era that many considered the greatest talent to ever play at Northwestern. That list starts with the Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney (1981 AFC Rookie of the Year, who died a hero two years later drowing trying to rescue three kids, one who survived). His track and football teammate was future Miami Dolphins All-Pro wide receiver Mark Duper. There was Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Victor Oatis and three-time All American and two-time Super Bowl champion Gary Reasons, the former New York Giants linebacker who is in the College Football Hall of Fame along with Joe.

There was a reason these guys came to Northwestern — to play for coach Williams! Coach did not put on a show when it came to recruiting players. He was honest and a man of great integrity who led by his actions. He was a man of great character and a tremendous judge of talent.

The one thing I remember most about playing under coach Williams was his dedication to family. Every week after practice, he would emphasize the importance of us calling our mom and dad and staying in touch with all family members. 

They say behind every great man is an even greater woman and that was definitely the case for Coach Williams as his wife Sarah was the best team mom ever. Mrs. Sarah, as I called her, was such a sweet lady and treated all players as if they were the sons she never had. 

She even gave my roommate and I a full-size roast one evening after we ran into her at the local grocery. We were actually looking for a good frozen pizza when Mrs. Sarah spotted us and said to follow her out to the house. Upon arrival, she proceeded to pull out of the oven a full-size roast; wrapped it in foil and said ‘enjoy’!  

For two college kids, this was as close to a home-cooked meal as you could get! So, as we arrived back at the dorm, we had to hide the roast under a bunch of clothes in a laundry basket so we could get to our second floor room undetected. But that did not work well, as a bunch of hungry Demon football players followed the smell and raced up the stairs banging on our door. But no door was opened until we had our fill. 

In today’s college athletics world, so many recruiters make promises they cannot keep. They tell players what they want to hear and flatter them with BS in order to get them to sign on the dotted line. Coach Williams was straight up with all his players. The only promise coach Williams made was giving you the opportunity; the opportunity to prove that you deserve to be in the starting lineup. 

In 1979, Coach Williams took a chance on a young boy from East Texas and offered me that opportunity to play both college football and baseball while gaining an education and receiving my college degree. He helped to set me up for the rest of my life and there’s no way a person can ever repay that. 

Coach Williams and I have stayed in touch over the years, and I still enjoy our phone calls. While he’s just one of many coaches who have had a huge impact on my life, A.L. Williams is the one who truly changed the course of my life and made me a proud NSU Demon. 

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During the holidays, we spend a lot of time and effort on what we eat. One mandatory item on most of our tables is bread, one of the oldest prepared foods. In 2018, scientists discovered the earliest known evidence of bread-making, including a bread oven and 24 charred bread crumbs, from a 14,400-year-old dig site in the Black Desert in Jordan. The stone age bakers ground flour from wild wheat and barley, mixed it with the pulverized roots of plants, added water, and then cooked it. This was before the advent of farming, when people were hunter-gatherers. The bread they made looked similar to modern flatbread because it contained no rising agent such as yeast and tasted like today’s multi-grain bread. Professor Dorian Fuller of University College London said, “this is the earliest evidence we have for what we could really call a cuisine, in that it’s a mixed food product.” Dr. Amaia Arranz-Optaegui of the University of Copenhagen, who discovered the remains of the bread, said “bread is a powerful link between our past and present food cultures. It connects us with our prehistoric ancestors.”

Fluffy loaves of bread that look like the bread most of us eat today came several thousands of years later. In 2017, archaeobotanist Lara González Carretero studied the remains of unbaked, leavened bread found at the ancient Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük in southern Turkey. They dated back to 6600 BCE, making it the oldest evidence of leavened bread found to date.

Through the ages, people bartered for bread rather than bake it themselves. The barter system had a major disadvantage in that the two parties involved each had to want what the other party was offering to trade. Sometime around 640 BCE, people in China began to mint the oldest known standardized forms of metal coinage. As money became the more common medium of exchange, bakers sold their bread. The problem was that money was standardized but bread was anything but standardized. It came in a variety of sizes, qualities, and prices. Unscrupulous bakers took advantage of the situation and sold poor-quality bread for premium prices. In 1266, the Parliament of the United Kingdom created the “Assize of Bread and Ale” to regulate the production and sale of bread and ale. Under this law, the weight and quality of a loaves of bread were specified and the price was set according to the fluctuating price of wheat. Bakers whose bread was not to up the standards set forth by the law were subject to the wrath of King Henry III. This law slowly began to weed out the dishonest bakers, but honest bakers became worried that a simple mistake could get them into trouble. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, they could be fined, placed in a pillory (where the community was expected to throw things at them), be jailed, or have their trade taken away. Honesty was the best policy. They were able to make bread that was good quality and sold it according to the law, but getting a standardized weight for each loaf was difficult. To ensure that they were well within the weight limit prescribed by law, bakers began adding a bonus loaf, what they called the “vantage loaf,” when someone bought 12 loaves of bread. That is why when visiting a bakery, you sometimes get a baker’s dozen.

Sources:

1. Helen Briggs, “Prehistoric bake-off: Scientists discover oldest evidence of bread,” July 17, 2018, BBC.com, Accessed November 30, 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44846874.

2. Sarah Bond, “Discovery of 8,600-Year-Old Bread Gives Rise to Half-Baked Claims,” Hyperallergic.com, March 18, 2024, accessed November 30, 2025, https://hyperallergic.com/discovery-of-8600-year-old-bread-gives-rise-to-half-baked-claims/.

3. “Oldest Fermented Bread,” Gunness World Records, accessed November 30, 2025, https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/768791-oldest-fermented-bread.

4. Andrew Beattie, “Evolution of Money: From Barter Systems to Bitcoin,” Investopedia, November 25, 2025, accessed November 30, 2025, https://www.investopedia.com/articles/07/roots_of_money.asp.

5. “Why 13? The Tale of a Baker’s Dozen,” Freshly Baked, accessed November 30, 2025, https://www.freshly-baked.co.uk/2015/02/why-13-tale-of-bakers-dozen.html.

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The Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) are excited to announce that the 2025 Youth Hunter of the Year Award contest is now accepting applications.

A panel of judges will name one boy and one girl who best represented the joy, thrill and camaraderie of hunting. Youth hunters must be Louisiana residents who were 15 years old or younger at the time of the hunt, and the hunt must have taken place within the 2025 calendar year (Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2025). Applications are due Jan. 30, 2026.

Caroline Ellerbe of Wisner and Kaiden Scarborough of Haynesville were the 2024 Louisiana Youth Hunters of the Year winners.

To enter the 2025 Youth Hunter of the Year contest:
• Complete and submit the application form;
• Submit a short story written by the young hunter describing the hunt;
• Submit photo(s) from the hunt.

Eligibility Requirements:
• Hunter must be a Louisiana resident;
• Hunter must be 15 years old or younger at the time of the hunt;
• The hunt must take place between Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2025;
• Short story must be written by the youth;
• The hunt does not have to result in the harvesting of an animal;
• One entry per youth hunter;
• Previous winners are not eligible.

The two winners will receive a plaque in recognition of their achievement and a gift card. Winners will also be recognized at LWF’s 60th Annual Conservation Achievement Awards banquet in April 2026. Everyone who enters will also be included in a drawing for a $100 gift card.

About Louisiana Wildlife Federation

Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) is a statewide conservation organization with more than 11,000 members from across the state representing a broad constituency of hunters, anglers, birders, boaters, campers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Celebrating 85 years, their mission is to be the voice of Louisiana’s wildlife and natural resources.

About Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation’s 2025 Conservation Raffle:

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation (LAWFF), in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), is hosting its inaugural raffle. Supporting ongoing LDWF conservation efforts, the raffle offers outdoor enthusiasts and conservation supporters of Louisiana the chance to win a brand-new Chevy Silverado from your Super Chevy Dealers, valued at $60,000.

Proceeds directly benefit programs led by LDWF, including habitat restoration, wildlife and fisheries research, public access enhancements, and education initiatives.

To purchase a ticket, visit: lawff.org/la-conservation-raffle.

Open to legal residents of the U.S. who are 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited. Contest ends 1/8/26.

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By Reba Phelps

Fundraisers are still underway to help cover the expenses of the Christmas in the Park Festival. The Village is hosting a Split the Pot that promises to split the winnings with one lucky winner. The price is $1 per ticket for a chance to win half of the total pot sold. Tickets can be purchased at The Store or from Eugean Garner, Linda Dupree, or Reed Franklin. The drawing will be held at the end of the Festival.

The Christmas in the Park Parade will take place on Saturday, Dec. 13 and the Village is looking for participants. Please contact Tanya Weaver at 318-413-4116 to register your float. They are accepting marching bands, beauty queens, politicians, churches and children’s marching groups.

There are still vendor spots available at the cost of $20. Please contact Barbara Stewart at 318-663-1383 or Sharlene Settle at 318-481-3153 to reserve your spot today.

The Village will also host their Annual Gingerbread House contest. The houses will be displayed at Christmas in the Park, more details will be announced soon.

Goldonna Baptist Church recently held their annual Hanging of the Greens service by candlelight. The entire church joined in prayer as they ushered in the season of celebrating Christmas.

Goldonna Assembly of God will be hosting Terry Terrell on Friday, Dec. 5 at 6 pm. It will be a fun night of worship and Bible Study. The public is invited to attend.

If you have news to share please contact Reba Phelps at 318-332-4260 or jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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This Thursday through Saturday, one of the most competitive basketball tournaments played in north Louisiana year in and year out takes place when the annual Bienville Parish Tournament tips off at Arcadia High School.

Played among schools domiciled only in Bienville Parish, the competition is always fierce, with annually one or more teams on both girls’ and boys’ sides being among the best in the state in their classifications.

This year is no exception, as the tourney features in the boys bracket a pair of LHSAA #1 ranked teams in Castor in Class B and Gibsland-Coleman in Class C, along with host Arcadia, which is ranked #3 in Division IV among “non-select” schools. The list doesn’t end there as Saline is ranked #9 in Class C and Ringgold is #23 in Division IV in the early rankings, with every school having at least a .500 winning percentage.

The girls’ side doesn’t have as many highly ranked teams, but two are in the top ten, and all are in the top 25 of their classifications, led by Saline in Class C at #6 and Arcadia at #9 in Division IV. Gibsland-Coleman is next at #17 in Class C while Castor checks in a #20 in Class B and Ringgold is at #23 in Division IV.

Admission is $8.00 per person, and if you leave, you must pay again as NO OUT PASSES are given. An exception is for players, who are admitted free even if their team is eliminated, and are identified by their coach or school principal.

The “dynamic duo” of Gavin Dailey and Eli Ferguson score 27 and 26 points respectively, including all but 8 of Saline’s second-half points to help the Bobcats rally past homestanding St. Mary’s of Natchitoches 72-55. With the victory Saline improves to a deceiving 5-5 overall record with all losses being to schools from a higher classification. St. Mary’s fell to 0-2 on the season.

Saline spotted St. Mary’s a 21-13 lead after one period of play but an 18-8 second quarter advantage gave the Bobcats a 31-29 advantage that Saline stretched to the convincing final margin by winning the third and fourth quarters by a combined 41-26 advantage. 

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Residents will wake up to widespread frost early Wednesday before a series of storm systems bring several rounds of rain and cooler temperatures through the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service.

Wednesday:

The day begins with widespread frost through 8 a.m., so early commuters and growers should take precautions. Skies turn partly sunny later with a high near 57°F. Winds will be calm before shifting to the south at around 5 mph by late morning.

Wednesday Night:

A quiet evening transitions to a wet and stormy overnight, with showers possible before midnight. The heaviest activity—including the chance for a thunderstorm between midnight and 3 a.m.—arrives after midnight. Overnight temperatures drop to around 44°F, with light winds turning northeast. Rain chances climb to 80%.

Thursday:

A damp start is expected, with showers likely, mainly before noon. The day stays cloudy and cool with a high near 53°F. Rain chances remain at 60%.

Thursday Night:

Showers continue into the evening, tapering off before midnight. Lows fall to around 38°F as clouds linger. Rain chances again sit at 60%.

Friday:

More scattered showers remain in the picture, though coverage decreases. There’s a 40% chance of rain, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 52°F.

Friday Night:

A slight chance of showers—mainly before midnight—continues, with a 30% chance of rain. Lows settle near 39°F.

Weekend Outlook:

Conditions improve as the weekend begins. Saturday brings partly sunny skies and a warmer high near 60°F, followed by a mild low around 42°F Saturday night.

Sunday continues the trend with mostly sunny weather and a high near 65°F, before cooling to around 38°F Sunday night.

Monday:

The new week starts off calm and pleasant with mostly sunny skies and a high near 57°F.
Residents are encouraged to monitor changing conditions, especially late Wednesday through Thursday, as multiple rounds of rain and isolated thunderstorms move through the region.

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Shreveport-Bossier is no stranger to hosting high level bass tournaments, most recently last month the Major League Fishing organization (MLF) brought their Summit Cup Team Series to local area lakes.

Over the last 25 years or so, Major League Fishing has brought several BFL’s, the Toyota Series and Team Series to our region. The B.A.S.S. organization has brought the Bassmaster Classic twice to Shreveport-Bossier’s mighty Red River.

There’s also been the highly prestigious MLF All-American tournament that was held on Cross Lake a few years ago as local angler Nick Lebrun took home first place, and kick started his professional career that he’s still enjoying today.

While all these events have had a huge impact on the economy in our area, these team events are only a handful of guys (24 anglers) fishing in a team format with two anglers in the boat.

In these Team Series events, there are 12 two-man teams. MLF has four different Cup events each year called the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot and Summit where these teams fish in an elimination-style format cutting from 12 teams over a six-day period down to four in the championship round.

While most regular professional tours are huge in terms of the number of anglers (usually over 150), and crowds at weigh-ins, the biggest thing for a Team Series event like the Summit Cup is how the economic impact comes later once this made-for-TV tournament airs nationwide next spring.

Here’s how the team series works. First, anglers are paired up through a draft where one captain of each team picks another angler from a pool of MLF anglers. The fishing format of the Team Series is every fish counts as the fish are weighed, recorded and released immediately.

Once the teams have been established, MLF will select a city where the Team Series will converge not knowing what lake they will be fishing until the morning of the event. Each day of the elimination rounds, anglers are loaded into a truck for a ride to whatever lake MLF has selected for competition.

While anglers have no information or practice time in any of these Team Series events, it’s a true test of figuring out how to locate and catch bass on a new body of water. That’s the premise of the MLF Team Series – no practice, no information and no idea where they are fishing until they arrive at the ramp of the waterway they will be fishing that day.

The anglers themselves absolutely love this format as it brings out the best in their ability to figure a new body of water in a short time. It’s a pride thing for all professional anglers who take more pleasure in finding fish than they do catching them.

If you’re not a fan of Major League Fishing, I highly encourage you to go online at majorleaguefishing.com and follow their entire tournament organization and the many circuits they own. They host tournaments from the grass roots level like the BFL’s up to the highest professional level with the Bass Pro Tour.

Also, when you see any of the Shreveport-Bossier city officials, let them know how much you appreciate them bringing in these high-level tournaments and what it means to our economy. The economic impact is huge for the entire region when any of these top-rated bass organizations come to our area.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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For many families, Elf on the Shelf has become as much a part of the holiday season as Christmas trees and cookie baking. The tiny, smiling scout elf is meant to add magic and excitement to December, popping up in new spots each morning as a “messenger” to Santa. But while kids wake up eager to search the house for their elf’s latest antics, parents often wake up with something else—panic.

What started as a whimsical tradition has earned a reputation for being one of the most stressful parts of the season. Between work, shopping, school events, and the daily responsibilities of life, remembering to move a small felt doll every single night can feel like an Olympic event. Many parents admit to bolting upright at 2 a.m. with the dreaded thought: I forgot to move the elf! Others resort to emergency explanations such as “The elf must really like that spot” or “Maybe he’s resting after flying all night!”

Still, despite its “pesky” reputation, the Elf on the Shelf remains beloved by children and continues to deliver memorable family moments. For parents, the key is keeping things simple—especially on those busy, chaotic nights.

Quick, Life-Saving Elf Ideas for Parents Who Forget (A Lot)

Here are some zero-prep, 30-second, “I’m exhausted but the elf must move” ideas that can save the day:

1. The Classic Relocation: Move the elf three feet to the left. On a shelf, a lamp, a curtain rod—anything counts. Kids rarely question subtlety.

2. The “Elf Took a Nap” Move: Lay the elf flat on a couch pillow. Boom. Instant story: He was tired from reporting to Santa.

3. Hide in Plain Sight: Tuck the elf halfway into a stocking or behind a plant. Just sticking out enough to be found—zero effort required.

4. Kitchen Surprise: Sit the elf next to a cereal box, mug, or fruit bowl. Early-morning breakfast magic with no setup.

5. The “He’s Reading” Trick: Place the elf on top of any open book. Doesn’t matter what book. If it’s upside down, even funnier.

6. Bathroom Break:Put the elf on the bathroom counter holding a toothbrush or sitting on a towel. Kids love it, and it takes 5 seconds.

7. The Refrigerator Chill: Set the elf next to the milk or eggs. Explain he wanted to “cool off.” Kids eat it up.

8. The Lazy Day Note: When you completely forget, place the elf wherever he already is and add a quick sticky note that says: “Elf is watching from here today!” Kids won’t question it.

9. The Shoe Hider: Put the elf inside a shoe by the front door. Easy to spot, easy to set.

10. Emergency “Magic Malfunction”: On nights you forget entirely, leave the elf unmoved and say:
“He must’ve used all his magic helping Santa last night.” Done.

The Elf on the Shelf may be pesky, but with a handful of fast and foolproof ideas, parents can keep the magic alive—without losing their minds. After all, the holidays are about joy, not elf-induced panic.

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The game of battledore is centuries older than football, baseball, soccer, basketball, golf, and just about every sport we watch or participate in. Over 2,000 years ago, people played battledore in China, Japan, India, Siam, and Greece, but its origin remains a mystery. Although popular for millennia, battledore was not included in the Olympic games until 1992 when it made its debut at the summer games in Barcelona, Spain. Its inclusion in the Olympics went unnoticed by most of the world’s population. Many of those who did notice argued that it should not be considered a sport, especially not an Olympic sport.

The game of battledore went largely unchanged for most of its existence. Beginning in 1857, British soldiers who had been sent to India to put down an Indian rebellion against British rule learned the game of battledore and played it to combat boredom. Players used wooden paddles similar to modern ping pong paddles to hit the projectile as many times as possible without it hitting the ground. The projectile was most likely a rock or nut to begin with, but the speed at which it could travel made it dangerous and its small size made it hard to see. To slow it down, players shaped a piece of cork in an oval similar in size and shape to the half of a walnut shell. To further decrease the projectile’s speed and to make it easier to see, players eventually rimmed the oval with delicate feathers from two to three inches in length. The soldiers enhanced the game of battledore by marking out boundary lines that players had to keep the projectile within because they probably got tired of having to search for projectiles hit by overzealous players. They also added a rope to divide the play area in half and hit the projectile back and forth over the rope. Much like the game of “hot potato,” players wanted to avoid having the projectile on their side of the rope. One newspaper reported that “the pleasure of the game is derived from the puzzling antics of the [projectile], whose flight is as dependable as that of a drunken-darning needle.” “Because of the illusive vagaries in flight,” the article included, “the players display the agility of the grasshopper, hummingbird, and leaping kangaroo.”

When those British soldiers in India returned home, they brought the game battledore with them. Battledore became popular, especially with the upper classes. The most notable change to battledore happened when aristocrats began playing it at the country estate of Henry Somerset, 9th Duke of Beaufort, in Gloucestershire, England. It was there that the game of battledore had its most noticeable change. Most of us have never heard of the game of battledore, but now you will remember that the modern version of the game was named after the Duke of Beaufort’s country house, Badminton House.

Sources:

1. The Daily Reporter (White Plaines, New York), February 9, 1937, p.2.

2. “The Origins of Badminton,” Badminton New Zealand, accessed November 23, 2025, https://badminton.org.nz/courses/national-accredited-line-judge/lessons/badminton-basics/topic/what-is-badminton/.

3. “Badminton – an overview and history of the sport,” BBC.com, accessed November 23, 2025, https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zs89dmn/revision/1.

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