February 11 marks the birthday of one of the most influential voices in modern music history: Whitney Houston. Born on this date in 1963, Houston’s impact on pop culture extends far beyond record sales, reshaping the sound of popular music and redefining what vocal excellence looked like for generations that followed.

Rising to fame in the mid-1980s, Houston quickly became a cultural force. Her 1985 self-titled debut album produced multiple chart-topping singles and introduced audiences to a voice that blended pop accessibility with gospel power. At a time when female pop artists were often boxed into narrow roles, Houston crossed genres effortlessly, finding success on pop, R&B, adult contemporary, and international charts simultaneously.

Her influence wasn’t limited to music. Houston’s presence on television and in film helped expand representation in mainstream entertainment. Her starring role in The Bodyguard (1992) cemented her status as a crossover superstar, while the film’s soundtrack became one of the best-selling albums of all time. Songs like “I Will Always Love You” became cultural touchstones, played at weddings, graduations, sporting events, and moments of public mourning.

February 11 also invites reflection on Houston’s broader cultural legacy. She broke barriers for Black women in pop music during an era when radio formats were more rigidly segregated. Her success opened doors for countless artists who followed, including Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, and Adele, all of whom have cited Houston as a major influence.

Even decades after her peak, Houston’s voice remains a benchmark. Viral clips of her live performances continue to circulate online, often sparking renewed appreciation from younger audiences discovering her for the first time. Vocal coaches, music critics, and fans alike frequently reference her control, tone, and emotional delivery as unmatched.

While Houston’s life also included public struggles, her artistic legacy continues to overshadow controversy. Each year on February 11, fans around the world revisit her catalog, celebrate her achievements, and reflect on how deeply her music is woven into shared cultural memory.

In an industry that constantly evolves, Whitney Houston’s voice remains timeless — and February 11 serves as a reminder of the day one of pop culture’s greatest legends was born.

In 1957, after years of bit parts in numerous films and television shows, Thomas was cast as Lana Turner’s love interest in the film “Another Time, Another Place.” In the second week of October 1957, Lana’s boyfriend Johnny Stompanato, a former marine who was a bodyguard and enforcer for mob boss Mickey Cohen, flew from Los Angeles to Cornwall, England, to be with her for the remainder of filming. For three months, Johnny watched from the sideline as the chemistry between Thomas and Lana grew. Thomas and Lana played their parts so well for the camera that Johnny became increasingly suspicious and jealous. Around New Year’s Day 1958, while Lana and Thomas were filming an intimate scene, Johnny’s jealousy could take no more. He rushed on screen, pointed a pistol at Thomas’s head, and threatened him to stay away from Lana. In a split-second move, Thomas forcefully disarmed Johnny. Thomas was aware of Johnny’s underworld connections and knew to expect a reprisal of some sort.

Lana was not a pushover by any means. When her marriage to Lex Barker broke down six months earlier, she forced him at gunpoint to leave her home. Lana had Johnny removed from the film set and contacted police who quickly deported Johnny from England. He was back in Hollywood by January 4, 1958. Despite this incident, Lana and Johnny remained on speaking terms. According to letters between Lana and Johnny, Lana wanted space. In a letter dated January 15, 1958, Lana wrote to Johnny, “You must let me alone in my own world for a while, to rest, think, rest, think… I need the time and a different place to funnel thru all the emotional turmoil I’ve been through.” Johnny had no intention of giving her the space she requested. He wanted to marry. Johnny wrote to Lana, “Let me prove that you and I belong together.” In another letter he wrote, “Every second of every day since you have been gone, I’ve thought of nothing but you and your kisses.” Johnny persuaded Lana’s 14-year-old daughter Cheryl to help convince Lana to marry him. On a letter dated April 3, 1958, Cheryl wrote to Johnny, “I just got your letter this morning because I was home for the weekend. How have you been? …When are you all coming back? Soon, I Hope. Mother and I really had a wonderful time in Europe.” She ended the letter, “Love ya and miss ya loads, Cherie.” She only had a short time to wait.

On the following day, April 4, Cheryl and Lana were at their home in Beverly Hills when Johnny stopped by for another attempt at convincing Lana to rekindle their romance and marry him. Johnny’s sweetness quickly turned to rage when he realized she could not be convinced. Johnny grabbed Lana and shook here while he cursed and threatened her. Cheryl heard Johnny yell, “I’ll get you if it takes a day, a week, or a year. I’ll cut your face up. I’ll stomp you. And if I can’t do it myself, I’ll find somebody who will.” As Johnny continued his tirade over Lana, Cheryl grabbed a 10-inch butcher knife and sank it to the hilt into Johnny’s abdomen. He died moments later. Cheryl was not prosecuted because a coroner’s jury deemed the killing a justifiable homicide. Mob boss Mickey Cohen linked Johnny’s death back to the altercation in which Thomas disarmed Johnny in a move similar to what we would expect to see in a James Bond film. Well, Thomas eventually became James Bond. His full name was Thomas Sean Connery.

Sources:

1. San Francisco Chronicle, October 1, 1957, p.25.

2. Berwick, PA., Enterprise, October 15, 1957, p.4.

3. The New London, Connecticut Evening Day, January 4, 1948, p.16.

4. The Akron Beacon Journal, April 5, 1958, p.1.

5. The Oregonian, April 11, 1958, p.10.

6. Los Angeles Times, April 12, 1958, p.1.

A stretch of mostly sunny weather and steadily rising temperatures is in store for Winn Parish over the next several days, according to the National Weather Service.

Wednesday will bring mostly sunny skies with a high near 55 degrees and a light north wind between 5 and 10 mph. Temperatures will drop sharply Wednesday night under partly cloudy skies, with lows around 31 degrees, marking another cold start for the area.

Sunshine continues on Thursday, with afternoon highs reaching about 57 degrees. Skies will remain mostly clear overnight, with lows near 38 degrees.

A noticeable warm-up arrives on Friday, as sunny conditions push highs to around 69 degrees, followed by mostly clear skies and overnight temperatures near 40 degrees.

The pleasant pattern holds through the weekend. Saturday will be sunny with a high near 67 degrees, and lows Saturday night around 41 degrees.

By Sunday, mostly sunny skies return with temperatures climbing back to near 69 degrees, offering a mild and comfortable close to the week.

While mornings will remain cool, residents can look forward to brighter days and spring-like warmth heading into the weekend.

Dr. Bill Gaddis spoke to Kiwanis members over the course of two of its most recent meetings, sharing highlights from his recent trip to Israel.

Gaddis presented photographs and discussed historical sites connected to both the Old Testament and New Testament, offering insight into the cultural and historical significance of the locations he visited. He expressed enjoyment in sharing his experiences with the group.

The presentation included a slideshow, with assistance provided by Winn Parish Library Director Priscilla Massey.

Over the years of playing both baseball and football, along with fishing tournaments, so many of my life’s lessons have come from playing or participating in sports. Some lessons we learn the hard way and some we learn through experience. Today, we’ll look at a couple of lessons I learned even when things didn’t always go the way I wanted.

This first lesson I learned came very early in my baseball career. In my hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, my baseball playing days started at the age of 7 in what was called Pee Wee League.

Spending my first summer in MP with my aunt and uncle, we lived on the west side of the town.

It was an awesome neighborhood where everyone knew each other. Every day we played baseball on a sandlot or on one of the neighbor’s side yards. Several windows were broken during these summer battles and like most kids our age, trouble wasn’t far behind.

Then the day came for Pee Wee League tryouts. There were six teams in the league with a lot of very good players. This is where a man by the name of Coach James Stansell shaped and instilled confidence in me to be the best baseball player I could be.

The day before tryouts, he asked me to pull back during the evaluation. He wanted me to “look bad” so that other coaches would not draft me onto their team. Being the new kid on the block, he did not want the other coaches knowing the ability I had.

This was hard for me to go out and miss ground balls and look silly on fly balls as if I had never played before. But I played along and pretended I could not even throw a baseball much less catch one.

Lo and behold, Coach Stansell called later that night and told me that I was going to play for him and the Yankees!

The best part of all this was that our entire neighborhood, including my best friend Kevin, was going to be playing for the Yankees. And oh, how good we were! Over the course of two seasons, the Yankees went 24-0 for two straight years and won back-to-back city championships!

Then at the age of 9 it was time to move up to the next level called Minor League. But then there was a draft, and this time there was no fooling the coaches into thinking I could not play.

When it came to the draft, the team that finished last in the league the year before got the first pick of the draft, which meant it would be the Tigers.

Tigers head coach Ted Leach took advantage of this opportunity and picked me first in the draft. This was the last team I wanted to get picked by, because they were horrible and for the previous two years hardly ever won a game.

When Coach Leach came to my house and told me I was his first pick, I wanted to cry but didn’t. They were absolutely the worst team every year! But he assured me that these Tigers were not going to be losers.

Then later that same night, Coach Stansell came by the house and explained how he was not able to draft me. But adding salt to the wound was the fact that Coach Stansell was able to get every Yankee player that went 24-0 over those two years, including my best friend (Kevin), to play for him and the Cardinals.

When he told me this, the tears began to flow, and I thought my world was coming to an end. How in the world was I going play without all my buddies? How was I going to face them daily on the sandlot while being the only one not on the Cardinals?

I was going to play for those losing Tigers while the Cardinals and all my friends would probably dominate the league and win the championship. I was crushed and did not know how to handle this. I was now the neighborhood outsider as a Tiger and not a Cardinal!

But this is where one of life’s lessons began to take shape. After my first practice with the Tigers, I realized that maybe we weren’t going to be that bad. In fact, we might actually be pretty darn good. This is when I took ownership and decided I would do whatever I could to help my team win.

Lo and behold, at the end of the season we played the Cardinals for the City Championship. We had one loss in that season before those games, and even won a game in the best of three championship series as I pitched and beat the Cardinals. But the Cardinals prevailed, and we finished league runner-up both years.

So, what was the lesson I learned? Things are never as bad or as good as you think they are. You must believe in yourself and always think you’re just as good as any player on the field. Believe that “you” can make a difference on whatever team you’re playing on. Go out, compete, and prove to yourself that you are and can be a winner no matter what team you’re on.

Over the years I’ve heard how kids quit playing a particular sport because they did not like the coach. One thing I’ve always told these kids and their parents is, “it doesn’t matter who the coach is because you don’t play for the coach; you play for yourself and your teammates.” Adolf Hitler could have been my coach, and it would not have changed how much I love the game or how hard I played.

The next lesson learned was to be positive and have a good attitude, no matter what. Some things in life you cannot control, but the one thing you have total control over is your attitude.

Playing sports has taught me that life doesn’t always go the way we want, but going through trials and tribulations help shape us into the kind of person we want to be.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

The Latest Question & Answer

A family’s guide to navigating the biggest decision of a young adult’s life, and why a single Saturday in Natchitoches might hold the answer.

By Cole Gentry, Chief Marketing Officer at Northwestern State University

The kitchen table is often where the panic sets in. It starts with a stack of glossy mailers, each promising the best four years of a student’s life. Then come the spreadsheets, the deadlines, and the quiet, gnawing questions that keep parents awake at 3 a.m. Can we afford this? Will they be safe? Is this the place where my child becomes the person they are meant to be?

For high school seniors, the pressure is immediate. They are standing on the cliff of adulthood, trying to discern their future from a website or a brochure. For families, the challenge is different. You bring the weight of experience. You understand the long-term implications of student loans and the reality of living away from home. You want to protect them, yet you know you must let them lead.

This tension between parental wisdom and student autonomy is natural, but it does not have to be stunned by anxiety. The remedy is not found in more paperwork. It is found in experience. It is found in stepping onto a campus, walking the grounds, and feeling the texture of the community.

That is the philosophy behind Northwestern State University’s N-Side View Day.

On Saturday, February 28, 2026, NSU opens its doors for an event designed to cut through the noise of the college search. It is an invitation to move beyond the statistics and step into the reality of life in Natchitoches.

“Your future is calling and it begins here,” says Emily Miller, Director of Recruiting. “We want students and families to see not just what Northwestern offers, but how it feels to be part of our community.”

Finding the right college is about finding a value match. It is about aligning a student’s ambition with an institution’s culture. This is difficult to do from a distance. You need to see the residence halls. You need to sit in the classrooms. You need to look a professor in the eye and ask them how they will mentor your student.

N-Side View Day provides that access. It transforms the abstract idea of “going to college” into a tangible plan.

The day is structured to address the specific anxieties that families face. Financial stability is often the largest hurdle. Many students, and honestly, many parents, are inexperienced in managing large-scale finances. During the event, financial aid experts break down the process, comparing packages and explaining scholarships in simple terms. It turns a conversation about debt into a strategy for investment.

Academically, the event allows students to explore over 100 degree programs. This is where the student takes the lead. While parents look for security, students look for inspiration. They can connect directly with faculty, asking the questions that matter to them.

“We have designed N-Side View Day to go beyond information. It’s an experience that inspires,” Miller explains. “Families leave with clarity, confidence, and excitement about the future.”

There is also the undeniable influence of place. Natchitoches is Louisiana’s oldest city, a place where history and progress coexist. The campus reflects that balance. It feels grounded. It feels like home. When families visit, they often find that their preconceived notions shift. A parent might have envisioned a different path but seeing their student light up while walking through Alost Hall changes the conversation. It validates that the student knows themselves better than anyone else.

NSU President James T. Genovese views this day as a critical first step in a lifelong relationship. “We are committed to preparing students not just for jobs, but for meaningful lives of impact,” Genovese says. “N-Side View Day is a chance to experience that mission firsthand.”

The event acknowledges that this transition is emotional. Having family support provides a safety net that fosters confidence. By visiting together, you are not making the decision for them; you are standing beside them as they make it.

The day concludes with a classic collegiate experience: a Demon Baseball game. Every attendee receives a free ticket. It is a chance to sit in the stands, eat a hot dog, and watch the B-Stro Boys compete on the diamond. It is a moment to stop worrying about the application process and start enjoying the atmosphere.

“NSU is Louisiana’s best-kept secret,” Miller says. “Once students step on campus, they feel it. They know this is where they belong.”

The labyrinth of college admissions is navigable. It requires patience, honest conversation, and a willingness to explore. It requires a trip to Natchitoches.

Register today for N-Side View Day at www.nsu.la/nsideviewday. 

What: N-Side View Day

Where: Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA

When: Saturday, February 28, 2026

Includes: Campus tours, academic sessions, financial aid guidance, and Demon Baseball.

Register: www.nsu.la/nsideviewday

I think spending a week inside avoiding the dangers of sleetmageddon put me in a reflective mood.

Shouts of “Throw me something, Mister!” are echoing across our state again. Krewes are loading up their floats, folks are dusting off tuxes and gowns for the Balls, and everybody’s loosening up their throwing arms like they’re training for the Saints’ draft. In Louisiana, this can only mean one thing: Lent is sneaking up on us.

Most places prepare for Lent with quiet reflection. Down here, we crank up the brass band. When you see purple, green, and gold beads hanging from the power lines like Spanish moss, you know the season of repentance is right around the corner. Only in Louisiana do we get ready for fasting by throwing a monthlong party.

Lent, of course, is tied to the ancient discipline of fasting. Ever tried it? That’s where all those fishonFriday stories come from. McDonald’s once even tried a pineapple sandwich to help the Friday fasters. They won’t do that again—but somehow the McRib keeps coming back like a stray cat that knows you’re a soft touch.

But fasting isn’t about food so much as it’s about reality. It’s the spiritual posture of remembering just how dependent we are on God—choosing hunger so we can feel our deeper hunger. The truth is, we are always desperate for God; it’s just that our comforts and routines do a pretty good job of hiding it.

Fasting cuts through the camouflage.

Fasting is a bold declaration that our stomachs don’t get the final say, that our bodies don’t get to boss our spirits around. In a culture that worships indulgence, fasting is downright rebellious. Yet Jesus fasted. He expected His disciples to fast. Scripture mentions fasting more often than baptism. It’s not a fringe practice—it’s a foundational one.

In the Bible, people fasted for guidance, for grief, for deliverance, for clarity, for dedication, for worship. And Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, told His followers to fast quietly—not with ashes smeared on their heads but with clean faces and anointed hair. In other words: don’t look miserable. Look like someone who knows God sees what no one else does.

The early church took this seriously. Clement of Alexandria tells us believers fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays. By 340 AD, Athanasius tied fasting to remembering Jesus’ wilderness journey. John Wesley even refused to ordain Methodist leaders who didn’t fast weekly. (Yes, I know. I’m preaching to myself here.)

Jesus fasted. The early church fasted. Christians throughout history have fasted. So why do so few of us do it now? Maybe some are fasting quietly and we simply don’t know. Or maybe we’ve let the noise of our culture drown out a practice that once shaped the saints.

So as the parades roll, the beads fly, and the king cakes multiply, remember this: the reason for the revelry is that Lent is coming. The party is the prelude.

And it makes me wonder—how different would our faith look if we took the fast of Lent as seriously as we take the fun of Mardi Gras?

Louisiana weather has never been great at picking a lane — and that’s the joke. One minute you’re digging out a winter coat, the next you’re debating flip-flops, all while keeping an umbrella close just in case. This week’s cartoon leans into that familiar mood swing, featuring a character dressed for every season at once, staring suspiciously at the forecast like it personally betrayed them.

It’s a lighthearted nod to a shared Southern experience: the daily ritual of checking the weather and still being wildly unprepared.

On February 4, 2004, a website originally designed for Harvard University students quietly launched under the name TheFacebook. Created by Mark Zuckerberg and a small group of collaborators, the platform would soon evolve into Facebook, fundamentally transforming communication and social interaction worldwide.

Initially limited to college campuses, Facebook allowed users to create personal profiles, connect with friends, and share updates online. Its real-name policy and clean design distinguished it from earlier social networking sites, fostering a sense of authenticity and trust among users.

As access expanded beyond universities, Facebook’s user base grew exponentially. The platform became a central hub for social interaction, news sharing, event organization, and digital advertising. Businesses, political campaigns, and media outlets quickly recognized its influence, using it to reach targeted audiences on an unprecedented scale.

Facebook’s growth also sparked complex debates about privacy, data usage, and the role of social media in shaping public opinion. The platform has been linked to both positive movements, such as grassroots activism, and negative consequences, including misinformation and online polarization.

Despite ongoing scrutiny and competition from newer platforms, Facebook remains one of the most influential digital entities in history. Its launch on February 4 represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of the internet, signaling the beginning of the social media era.

More than two decades later, the impact of that single website continues to shape how people connect, communicate, and engage with the world around them.

J.D. was born in 1924 near Annona, Texas. He was the eldest of seven children. His father, Edgar, named him J.D. after the character in a book. The initials stood for nothing. According to his family, J.D. was “a prankster, and a cutup, and a ham. He always loved being with folks who he could cutup with; people who understood his humor, and all his inside jokes.” When he was about 15 years old, J.D. quit school to help his father run the family farm. When the United States entered World War II, J.D. wanted to do his part, but he felt his duty was to help his father provide for the family. From 1941 until July 1944, J.D.’s family could tell that his decision was bothering him. J.D.’s sister Joyce remembered that J.D. had “been acting like he had something on his mind and he was real edgy, which wasn’t like him because he was a pretty carefree, happy-go-lucky kind of guy.” Later that day, July 21, 1944, J.D. enlisted in the Army where he became a paratrooper. J.D. spent months in heavy combat. In January 1945, he was injured while fighting in the Rhine Valley, the final major barrier between the Allies and Germany. When he learned he was to be awarded the Purple Heart, he refused it. The Army ultimately awarded him the Bronze Star for his combat duty.

Following the war, J.D. returned to farming alongside his father. In December 1946, J.D. married his high school sweetheart and moved to Dallas for better employment opportunities, along with other creature comforts such as electricity and indoor plumbing. J.D. worked at the Dearborn Stove Company followed by Sears, Roebuck & Company. After getting laid off from Sears and a failed stint at farming, J.D. decided to become a police officer. In June 1952, he joined the Dallas Police Department where he was assigned to the Oak Cliff area of Dallas.

J.D. had several notable incidents while a police officer. On April 28, 1956, J.D. and his partner Daniel Smith responded to a call in which a man was threatening to kill his wife with an ice pick. J.D. and Daniel arrived and confronted the man. While trying to subdue the man, Daniel was stabbed in the shoulder and J.D. in the stomach and right kneecap. Despite their injuries, they arrested the man and received treatment at a nearby hospital. Five months later, on September 2, 1956, J.D. and officer Dale Hankins stopped at a bar called Club 80 for a routine check. While there, J.D. recognized a man from a wanted poster and asked him to step outside. The man stood, pulled a pistol, pointed it at J.D.’s face, and pulled the trigger. Snap! J.D. and Dale pulled their pistols, fired multiple shots, and killed the man. Luckily for J.D., the man had failed to take his pistol off safety. J.D. received the Meritorious Award and a commendation for his “outstanding judgment and quick thinking.”

Seven years later, J.D. was on patrol in the Oak Cliff area when a police dispatcher provided the details of a shooting suspect. At about 1:15 p.m., J.D. saw someone who fit the provided description near East 10th and North Patton streets. Based on eyewitness accounts, J.D. spoke to the suspect through his passenger side window briefly and exited his car. The suspect pulled a pistol, shot J.D. four times, and fled the scene. A passerby used J.D.’s own police radio to call for help, but there was nothing anyone could do. After 11 years as a police officer, J.D. Tippit’s final shift ended at that intersection where a memorial plaque now stands, but it led to the arrest of the man who killed him, the same man who, just 45 minutes earlier, had killed President John F. Kennedy.

Source: “J.D. Tippit, Brother, Husband, Father, Friend,” JDTippit.com, accessed January 18, 2026, https://www.jdtippit.com/happen_nov.htm.