If I have learned nothing else over my many years of tournament bass fishing, it’s the fact that it’s a young man’s sport. Being young has its privileges, especially when it comes to energy levels and mobility. At the age of 65, I no longer hop around the boat like a rat on crack. 

Now I’m a little more cautious in making sure I don’t hang a toe getting up on the front deck of my Caymas boat.  I’m just trying to maintain my balance and make sure that I don’t fall in the lake! 

I’ve also noticed that the older I have gotten, the further it seems to be from the driver’s seat console to the front of my boat. Just putting the trolling motor in the water also requires a little more energy now, even with high-tech lift-assist-systems that trolling motors have today. 

Even tying on a new lure can be a challenge as I need my reading glasses just to see what I’m doing. Threading fishing line through the eye of a hook requires skill that used to be automatic; now it’s an adventure and a test of my patience! 

One aspect that today’s young anglers seem to do a better job of is covering water and fishing as many places as they can in a day’s time. Older guys tend to stay in one area longer and fish it thoroughly just because we don’t want to take the time or exert the energy to move. 

I have also noticed the younger generation of today are not very likely to offer much help for the older guys who might be launching their boats by themselves. 

This was something I was always conscious of during my younger days. If I saw an older gentleman trying to launch his boat by himself, I always offered a helping hand. I think it’s just the way my generation was raised, to always be looking out for the elderly.

Even today, and now that I’m the older guy at the ramp, I’ll still offer ANY angler assistance. It’s just good manners.

In today’s tournament world, I find myself trying to stay in better shape just so I can compete with these young guns. To compete on any tournament trail, you must spend time on the water. 

A good angler will practice 8-10 hours a day in the boat trying to locate as many schools of bass as he can. It’s not uncommon for the really good anglers to practice from sunup to sundown. Again, nothing will make you a better angler than time on the water! 

These are the anglers who will not only cash more checks but will also be holding up the trophy at the end of the tournament. You cannot compete in today’s bass fishing world by taking shortcuts or only fishing for a few hours a day, no matter how good you think you are. 

Another issue at my age is that some days, fishing is literally a grind and a test of your patience. The bass don’t always bite all day long and there are only a few small windows of opportunity where the bass will feed. If you’re not on the water, you will miss those opportunities. 

There will be some days that you will ask yourself, “Why am I out here?”  But these are the days that will separate the good anglers from the average ones. The good anglers will stay on the lake and make every attempt to figure out how to make the fish bite. 

This is called persistence and determination, which can go a long way in having tournament success. It’s also called focus, which I find is a lot harder to maintain as I’ve gotten older. Focus ensures that you don’t miss those windows of opportunity when you get that unexpected bite. 

One thing that has not changed, even at the age of 65, is my desire to compete. I’m still that same competitive soul who gets so much joy in a high finish and beating the younger generation. We’ve all heard, age is just a number. That’s true until you reach what you think is that age …then reality sets in.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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July 22 marks one of the most famous days in American crime history.

On July 22, 1934, notorious bank robber John Dillinger was shot and killed by federal agents outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago after leaving a movie. His death ended one of the nation’s most highly publicized manhunts during the Great Depression.

Dillinger became one of America’s most infamous outlaws after a string of bank robberies, jail escapes and confrontations with law enforcement across the Midwest. Newspapers closely followed his crimes, turning him into a household name at a time when many Americans were struggling through economic hardship.

Federal authorities tracked Dillinger to the theater after receiving information from an informant. As he exited the building, agents attempted to arrest him. When he tried to flee, he was shot and killed.

The event marked a significant moment in the history of federal law enforcement. The pursuit of Dillinger helped elevate the public profile of what would become the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under Director J. Edgar Hoover and led to increased attention on interstate crime-fighting efforts.

More than 90 years later, Dillinger’s story continues to be the subject of books, documentaries and films, making July 22 a notable date in American history.

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In the early months of 1915, New York policemen knew unsavory characters had been living rent free in the dilapidated and seemingly abandoned building across the street from their station house in Brooklyn.  Finally, in late April, construction workers began demolishing the old building.  Only then did the policemen realize the scope of their problem.  As each floor was systematically disassembled, the unwelcome tenants just moved closer to street level.  The tenants that left the building took up residence in adjoining buildings or lived in the street.  They even began occupying the police station itself.  When policemen chased one away, it seemed that two or three more would take its place.  The New York Times reported, “Policemen who have faced all kinds of danger unflinchingly do not hesitate to say that it makes them feel decidedly uncomfortable.” That was an understatement.  The problem with the unwelcome tenants was out of control.  It affected all of the policemen in one way or another.  Some were unable to eat properly.  Others were unable to get a good night’s sleep.  Their work performance waned.  The whole area was going to pot.  The problem was not relegated to a single station house.  Other New York police station houses including Morrisania Police Station, Alexander Avenue station, and West 152d Street station were facing similar crises.               

In May 1915, the New York City Police Department added more than 100 new officers from a certain local tribe whose sole purpose was to rid their areas of the unwanted tenants by any means necessary.  A team of new officers at the Morrisania Police Station was led by an officer named Peter whom that station’s Lieutenant Peter Brady had adopted and named after himself years earlier.  In some cases, the police department filled the position by using the local homeless population, which solved two problems at the same time.  At the Alexander Avenue station, one new officer was not only homeless but nameless as well.  At the time of the New Yok Times’s report, the other officers at the Alexander Avenue station were trying to come up with a name for him.  One of the new officers at the Brooklyn Station who was described as being large and battle-scarred took the “by any means necessary” portion of his orders to heart.  The New York Times reported, “No count was kept of the number of [them] which [he] dispatched, but those he failed to slay he routed completely from the station house, so terrifying them that, according to the police, [none] since has had the temerity to show his nose in the place.”  With the help of the new officers, the crisis of the New York Police Department was resolved.  Why have you not heard of this murdering cop or his fellow officers who certainly performed similar atrocities against the unwelcome tenants?  They were from, as the New York Times reported, the “Feline Tribe.”  Those police officers and the unwelcome tenants were respectively… cats and rats.        

Source: New York Times, May 7, 1915, p. 23.

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The Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University will present a traditional music and dance informance with Native Nations Intertribal at on Friday, July 17 at 6 p.m. the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 800 Front St. in Natchitoches. The event will be free and open to the public. 

The event will feature members of Native Nations Intertribal, who will symbolically open the 46th Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival with Native American music and dance. Native Nations Intertribal will engage in a discussion of their traditions with NSU Professor of Anthropology Dr. Hiram “Pete” Gregory, an expert on Southeastern Native American tribes and culture. 

“We are so grateful to Native Nations Intertribal for so generously sharing their cultural knowledge with us,” said Dr. Shane Rasmussen, professor of English and director of the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University. “Attendees at this event will have the opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful music and dance traditions in the world.” 

Native Nations Intertribal is an all-Native American song and dance troupe dedicated to sharing the beauty, diversity and living traditions of Indigenous peoples across the United States. For over 25 years, it has proudly performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, where the troupe honors their ancestors and educates audiences from around the world through the power of their songs, dances and stories. The group is composed of approximately 15-18 dancers and five singers, representing more than 10 tribal nations including Alabama-Coushatta, Coushatta, Southern Cheyenne, Mescalero Apache and Chickasaw, among others. Each performance is a celebration of these cultures, an opportunity to showcase the rich traditions that have been passed down through generations while building understanding and respect among all peoples. 

Native Nations Intertribal will participate in the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival on July 18. In honor of the 2026 Festival theme, “America the Beautiful,” the Festival will feature the traditional music of the nation – blues, gospel, Cajun, Celtic, country, bluegrass and zydeco on three stages of music as well as in the Magale Recital Hall. Over 70 traditional crafts persons from throughout the state will display their crafts, handcrafting their work during the festival. 

Held in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum, the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival features three stages of live music, Louisiana cuisine food vendors, the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship, dance lessons, music informances, narrative sessions, on-site demonstrations and more. Admission to this family friendly event is $10 for an all-day all-event pass, with children 12 and under admitted free all day. For more information, call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332, email folklife@nsula.edu, or go to https://www.nsula.edu/folklife/. 

The event is sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest History Museum and is in partnership with the City of Natchitoches. Support for the Festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the State of Louisiana. 

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. 

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), in conjunction with the Saline Game and Fish Preserve Commission, has scheduled a drawdown of Saline Lake (Natchitoches and Winn Parishes) for giant salvinia control, organic reduction, and fish habitat improvement. The drawdown is designed to reduce the further expansion of giant salvinia as summertime temperatures promote maximum growth.

The water control structure is scheduled to open on or about July 13, 2026, and the lake should dewater at a rate of 4 -10 inches per day. The water level will be lowered to a maximum drawdown level of 8 feet below normal pool stage, depending on Red River Pool 3 water level. The Saline Lake control gates are scheduled for closure on October 5, 2026, to allow the lake to refill for fall, winter, and early-spring recreational activities.

During the drawdown, an estimated 2,500-3,000 acres of water will remain in the lake. Boaters may still access the main waterbody from the Mulligan Inn Boat Ramp with small craft, but caution is advised. Caution is also advised when on the water, as numerous obstructions that are normally not seen are present.

This action is an important component of LDWF’s integrated management plan to control overabundant aquatic vegetation and to improve and sustain access for recreational activities. An annual cycle of high and low water fluctuation can provide beneficial effects similar to a natural overflow lake system and replicate the natural ebb and flow of the watershed.

The current LDWF Saline Lake Management Plan Part A, can be viewed online: wlf.louisiana.gov/resources/category/freshwater-inland-fish

For vegetation related questions contact Kane Finkbeiner, LDWF Aquatic Plant Control Biologist Manager, at (318)-362-3089 or wfinkbeiner@wlf.la.gov. For fisheries related questions contact Villis Dowden, LDWF Biologist Manager, at (318) 357-3214 or vdowden@wlf.la.gov.

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Over my career, I have fished in every southern state below the Mason Dixon Line. Of all the lakes and river systems I have fished, I have never heard as many anglers hate on a body of water like they do the Red River. 

Why does this body of water garner such disdain? What is it about the Red that makes anglers’ blood boil like it’s the worst place on Earth to fish? 

For the life of me I have never been able to figure this out. Before we answer these questions, let’s take a look at some history of this wonderful river system. 

Before the great floods of 2015 and 2016 and from the time the locks and dams were implemented, the Red River became a fishing and hunting paradise. There was great duck and deer hunting along with some awesome bass fishing; fishing so good that both major professional bass fishing organizations, the FLW (now MLF) and the Bassmaster Classic, held championship events on the Red.

Well-known backwater areas like the Jungle, Little Jungle, Knee Knock, Sutherlands, White House and Goose Pond, to name a few, offered some of the best bass cover imaginable. Lush green acres of lily pads and hydrilla along with plenty of standing timber and laydowns were just loaded with bass.

Then in 2015 and 2016 the Red River went through two floods of Biblical proportions. These were truly 100-year events that took the Red River system years to recover. 

So much of the main river was destroyed with small islands totally wiped out. Tree lines along the river were completely stripped of the timber that once stood tall. 

Backwater areas off the river that held good vegetation like reeds, hydrilla and lily pads were all wiped clean. There was little to no cover left behind after these devastating floods. 

Just to give you an idea of how massive these back-to-back floods were, the water reached record levels of 25 to 30 feet above pool! 

There was also a huge fish die-off during the floods but give credit to the Red River Waterway Commission for developing a restocking program that has brought the river back to life with quality bass being caught once again.  

OK, enough history. Let’s get back to the question: why do so many anglers hate the Red River? First, it can be a tough place for a bass boat to navigate, especially in some of the backwater areas. It’s full of stumps and laydowns that can do damage to an outboard engine’s lower unit, not to mention the fiberglass damage that can occur to the boat. It is a very unforgiving body of water if you don’t know how to get around.

Additionally, there are underwater rock jetties. Knowing where these are located is VERY IMPORTANT, especially along the main river system. Some of these jetties are not visible and run straight off the bank several yards underwater. If you cut the corners too tight or run the river too close to the bank, you can hit these rocks and do major damage to your outboard motor. But if you stay between the red and green buoys that line the main river, you’ll be just fine. 

Let’s talk about the fishing! Some anglers really struggle to catch fish on the Red River, especially anglers who have never fished a river system. Rivers are a different animal than your man-made lakes. Fish relate a little different in a river system than they do in a lake.

Current and moving water can be a big factor in catching bass with any river system. Bass relate to current breaks like sand bars, big laydowns, and rock jetty points, making the main river current very important. However, the backwater areas do fish like any other lake.

So, between the difficulty of navigating the Red and the challenges of river fishing, the weigh-ins are a cry fest of guys complaining about coming to fish here! Tournament directors are inundated with complaints from the guys who can’t stand a Red River event. 

Here’s my advice to all the whiners. “Get your butt in the boat and learn it like you would any other body of water!” It’s no different than going to a new lake; you have to learn it! STOP YOUR WHINING!

Another reason some anglers hate coming to the Red is the fact that it levels the playing field. Every lake has a handful of local guys who you must beat when you back your boat in the water, which can make it more difficult for a lot of anglers to compete for a win. But the Red River is an equalizer and gives a lot of anglers a shot at winning.

Here’s my personal viewpoint. I absolutely love the Red River and everything about it! It’s a great fishery with both backwater and main river habitat. It’s a body of water on the rebound as local tournaments are now taking over 18 pounds to win. 

After the two major floods of 2015 and 2016, anglers needed 14-15 pounds to win. But now, due to the impact of the restocking program, good fishing has returned with more quality bass being caught.

From the very first time I fished an event here, I was hooked! I have loved the Red River ever since and made it a priority to learn it. As an angler, some of my greatest tournaments have been on this body of water. To all those who hate it, take the time to learn it and it will probably become one of your favorite places to fish!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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July 15 has been the date of several notable events throughout history, but one of the most influential in modern communication happened in 2006 when Twitter officially launched to the public.

Originally created as a simple platform for users to post short status updates of 140 characters or less, Twitter quickly evolved into one of the world’s most influential social media platforms. The service became a hub for breaking news, emergency alerts, entertainment, sports and public conversation, fundamentally changing how information is shared in real time.

The platform’s first tweet was posted months earlier on March 21, 2006, by co-founder Jack Dorsey, who wrote, “just setting up my twttr.” The public launch on July 15 marked the beginning of what would become a global communications tool used by millions of people.

Over the years, Twitter played a major role in covering elections, natural disasters, sporting events and other major world events, often delivering news faster than traditional media outlets.

In 2023, the platform was rebranded as X, though many people still commonly refer to it by its original name.

Nearly two decades after its public debut, the platform continues to influence how people communicate and consume news around the world.

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By Brad Dison

William Bruce “Bill” Rose was an unsavory character.  Police arrested him numerous times for non-violent crimes.  In 1964, 22-year-old Bill left his 18-year-old wife Sharon and their two-year-old son William Bruce Rose Jr. and infant daughter Amy.  In 1965, Sharon met Stephen Bailey and married him the following January.  When they married, Sharon told Billy and Amy that Stephen was their father, and they took his last name.  As a teenager, Billy disliked the name because kids teased him for being Bill Bailey.  Stephen and Sharon raised Billy, Amy, and their only child together, Stuart, in a Pentecostal church.  Their children often performed in church as the Bailey Trio, but there were problems at home.  Billy and his stepfather fought constantly.  When he was 17 years old, Billy accidentally learned that Stephen was not his biological father.  Billy knew nothing about his biological father, but he began going by the name Billy Rose.  For better or worse, Billy never met his father as an adult.

In 1984, Bill Rose, who had recently been paroled from prison, disappeared from Marion, Illinois.  Three years later, in May 1987, police arrested 39-year-old James Faulkner for murdering Bill sometime between May 1 and July 4, 1984.  The family had kept the murder a secret until James’s son Jimmy revealed it to Katie Adams, a counselor with the area Youth Services Bureau.  At her insistence, Jimmy contacted the police.  Jimmy told investigators that Bill was killed in their home at 409 E. DeYoung Street in Marion.  Jimmy said that on the night of Bill’s murder, “My mom and dad and Bill went out drinking.”  Later, they returned to the Faulkner’s home where the trio began having intercourse.  At some point, James left the bedroom, went to Jimmy’s bedroom, and woke him.  James told his then 15-year-old son that he needed him to see something.  Jimmy followed instructions and walked toward the bedroom.  He noticed that his father was holding a long knife.  As Jimmy stood there in shocked silence, his father stabbed Bill, then dragged Bill into the bathroom.  He said “Sayonara, Bill” and finished him off with a baseball bat.  Jimmy said his parents wrapped Bill in painter’s cloth and tied it with a piece of clothesline.  James put the knife into a jug of bleach.  James had his wife and son help load Bill’s body into the trunk of their car, and the family drove five miles to a remote wooded area known as Crenshaw Crossing.  James, Judith, and Jimmy removed the body from their trunk, and they rolled it down one of the area’s many embankments.  James covered the body with debris to disguise it.  The family returned home and James and Judith began scrubbing the floor and carpet in the bedroom.  James told Jimmy to throw the knife in the city reservoir a few blocks south of their home and to put the baseball bat on a public baseball diamond.  Jimmy complied.  Jimmy later showed investigators where he had thrown the knife and divers retrieved the weapon.  Judith’s testimony initially agreed with Jimmy’s, but she later changed her story to help James.  On September 9, 1987, James was found guilty of murder even though Bill’s body had not been found, and he was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.  Bill’s body has never been found. 

Had Billy Rose wanted to meet his biological father as an adult, he never had the chance.  Like his father, Billy was arrested numerous times for various crimes.  Just as he had done as a child in church, Billy always found comfort in singing.  Billy became a famous singer.  The world knows William Bruce “Billy” Rose Jr. as Axl Rose, lead singer for Guns N Roses.

Sources:

1.     Southern Illinoisan, May 7, 1987, p.1.

2.     Southern Illinoisan, August 13, 1987, p.9.

3.     Southern Illinoisan, August 24, 1987, p.9.

4.     Southern Illinoisan, September 2, 1987, p.21.

5.     Evansville Courier and Press, September 4, 1987, p.1.

6.     Southern Illinoisan, September 10, 1987, p.1.

7.     Dave Basner, “25 Things You Might Not Know About Birthday Boy Axl Rose,” February 6, 2025, IHeart Radio, https://kfmqrock1061.iheart.com/content/2020-02-06-25-things-you-might-not-know-about-birthday-boy-axl-rose/.       

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The North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory is warning the public after recent testing found that nearly one in three pharmaceutical-style tablets examined by the lab were counterfeit.

According to the crime lab, analysts examined 3,394 pharmaceutical tablets bearing legitimate drug imprints intended to identify the medication. Of those, 1,047 tablets were determined to be counterfeit, representing a counterfeit rate of 30.8%.

Lab officials said fentanyl and fentanyl analogs were the most commonly identified substances found in the counterfeit pills. Designer benzodiazepines, including bromazolam and phenazolam, were the second most common. Combined, those two drug classes accounted for approximately 80% of the counterfeit pills analyzed.

The remaining counterfeit tablets contained stimulants, other mismatched substances, and emerging novel opioids such as nitazenes and orphines.

According to the lab, the most frequently counterfeited pill was the M30 tablet, which is the imprint for legitimate 30-milligram oxycodone. Investigators also identified counterfeit versions of several alprazolam (Xanax) bar imprints, including S903, B707, GG249 and G3722, which instead contained designer benzodiazepines.

The crime lab said counterfeit pills have been identified throughout its 29-parish service area, including Ouachita, Caddo and Bossier parishes, as well as rural parishes such as Sabine, Lincoln, Morehouse and Winn.

Officials emphasized that it is impossible to determine what a pill contains based solely on its appearance and urged the public to only take medications dispensed by a licensed pharmacy with a valid prescription.

The North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory warned that any pill obtained outside of a pharmacy should be considered potentially lethal, noting that a single counterfeit pill can be fatal.

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Demetria Gene Guynes was born in 1962 in Roswell, New Mexico.  Hers was a troubled childhood.  Demetria’s parents, Dan and Virginia Guynes, were alcoholics and the family moved often to avoid debt collectors.  Dan and Virginia fought often, and they married and divorced twice.  When Dan left for the last time, in contrast to the natural order of things, Demetria had to take care of her unstable mother.  Virginia found occasional work as a model in Los Angeles, California, but her alcoholism worsened.  When Demetria was 12 years old, her mother tried to commit suicide the first time by taking pills.  Demetria saved her mother’s life by digging the pills out of her unconscious mother’s mouth and calling an ambulance.  Shortly thereafter, she learned that the man she called dad was not her biological father.  Her real name was not Demetria Gene Guynes, but Demetria Gene Harmon.  Her family had withheld the fact that her biological father was Charles Foster Harmon, an airman with the Air Force who had abandoned Virginia while she was pregnant with Demetria.

Virginia’s lack of steady employment and abuse of alcohol led to constant money problems.  The money problems led to more alcohol abuse, which led to more money problems.  It was a vicious cycle.  When Demetria was a young teenager, her mother started taking her to bars to get attention.  Late one night, Demetria and her mother returned to their apartment from a bar.  Demetria was surprised to find a man they knew waiting for them inside their apartment.  Virginia was not surprised.  The man had a key to their apartment.  The man took Demetria into her bedroom and raped her.  Demetria was 15 years old.  Before the man left, he asked her how it felt to be sold by her mother for $500.  In addition to the awfulness of being raped, Demetria felt betrayed by her mother, the one person who should have protected her.    

At 16, Demetria became a high school dropout and a runaway.  Like her mother, Demetria began working sporadically as a model.  At just 5 feet, 5 ½ inches, she was considered too short for most modeling jobs.  Like her parents, Demetria tried to drown her troubles with alcohol.  With nothing to lose and with no experience, she began auditioning for acting jobs.  As with modeling, her acting jobs came sporadically.  Alcohol abuse led to drug abuse.  Demetria was headed for certain self-destruction when her boss and coworkers forced her to go to rehab.  While Demetria’s mother’s life spiraled out of control with numerous arrests including burglary, arson, and multiple charges of drunken driving, Demetria led a life of sobriety.  Because of her troubled childhood, Demetria now works with a foundation whose goal is to eliminate child sex slavery and human trafficking called Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children.  You may not have known about Demetria Gene Guynes’s troubled childhood or her work with Thorn, but you certainly know her from films such as “Striptease,” “G.I. Jane,” and “Ghost.”  You know Demetria Gene Guynes as Demi Moore.  

Sources:

1.     Concord Transcript (Concord, California), March 31, 1970, p.18.

2.     Citizen (Solana Beach, California), December 11, 1987, p.58.

3.     “Demi Moore reveals the devastating childhood that shaped her – ABC News – Part 1/3,” ABC News, Youtube.com, September 23, 2019, accessed June 21, 2026, https://youtu.be/MlFl5WiMzBI?si=7f03o7LeOZqfYj3-.

4.     The Fresno Bee, October 7, 1994, p.2.

5.     The Signal (Santa Clarita, California), October 5, 1995, p.2.

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State Representative Gabe Firment officially announced his candidacy for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District, pledging to bring proven conservative leadership, rural values, and a results-driven approach to Washington.

Firment, who has represented his district in the Louisiana House of Representatives since 2019, currently serves as Chairman of the House Insurance Committee and has built a reputation as a principled conservative leader, small business owner, and advocate for Louisiana families.

“Washington doesn’t need another career politician,” Firment said. “It needs leaders who understand the people they serve, share their values, and are willing to fight for them. 

I’m running for Congress because Louisiana deserves a proven conservative who will stand up for our families, our freedoms, and our future.”

A native of Rapides Parish, Firment is a graduate of Louisiana Christian University and Louisiana Tech University. He and his wife, Erica, a public school educator, raised their family in Grant Parish and are proud parents of three children and grandparents of three grandchildren.

A committed Christian, deacon, and Sunday School teacher, Firment has been recognized as a defender of traditional values and individual liberties, earning thePrestigious Gladiator Award from Louisiana Family Forum for his leadership in the Louisiana Legislature.

As a lifelong Republican, Firment has championed policies that defend life, protect the Second Amendment, strengthen public safety, lower taxes, and protect private property rights. He has been a vocal advocate for farmers, timber producers, and rural communities throughout Louisiana.

If elected, Firment says his priorities will include securing the border, restoring American energy dominance, protecting Social Security and Medicare, defending constitutional freedoms, and supporting President Trump’s America First agenda.

“Louisiana’s 5th District deserves a fighter who will stand firm and deliver results,” Firment said. “I’m ready to take that fight to Washington.”

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The Cenla Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Program Grant funded by The Rapides Foundation and in consultation with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is accepting applications from candidates and placement sites in nine parishes: Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn. Applications will be accepted until June 30.

The program helps bridge the gap between a master’s degree in mental health and licensure in Louisiana and supports mental health and community support systems in central Louisiana. It’s administered through Northwestern State University’s Gallaspy Family College of Education and Human Development. 

Eligible candidatesare master’s level mental health professionals interested in pursuing Louisiana licensure as either a Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The program supports candidates through licensing exam preparation, licensure application fees, professional development and mentoring by content experts in counseling and social work. The program also covers the cost of candidate’s clinical supervision if the employer does not provide it.

Eligible placement sites are employers offering mental health services to children, adults and families living in central Louisiana. The program supports placement sites through job placement assistance and partial reimbursement of salaries for up to two years. 

“We look forward to reviewing applications and to welcoming our next cohort of approved candidates and placement sites,” said Steven Gruesbeck, MS, NCC, executive director of Cenla Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Program at NSU.

Joe Rosier, President and CEO of The Rapides Foundation, said the Foundation’s Board of Trustees created the Cenla Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Program Grant in 2025 to help address the critical shortage of licensed mental health professionals in Central Louisiana. The four-year grant was awarded to NSU to carry out this important work.

“The program builds on our longstanding commitment to strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce, particularly in nursing, behavioral health and allied health fields,” Rosier said. “By supporting mental health professionals on their path to licensure, this program will help expand access to quality behavioral health services throughout our nine-parish service area.”

“Social workers are desperately needed and highly sought after in rural Louisiana to meet the needs of individuals with diminished access to services,” said Byron D. McKinney, MSW, LCSW-BACS, an associate professor of social work at NSU and social work mentor for the program.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors (PLPCs) beginning their licensure journey and a win for our region,” said Dr. Gerra Perkins, program coordinator for NSU’s Master of Arts in Counseling program and counseling mentor for the program. “Increasing the number of licensed mental health professionals and improving access to mental health care brings a host of benefits for individuals and families in our communities, including connection and resilience, economic well-being and better health outcomes.”

“By removing obstacles and providing relevant support, we will increase the number of fully licensed professionals in Central Louisiana by 2029,” said Dr. Susan Campbell, associate professor of social work at NSU and associate director of the program.

More information and applications are available at nsula.edu/mental-health-workforce/

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As Louisiana families prepare to celebrate Independence Day and America’s 250th year, the Office of State Fire Marshal (SFM) is urging residents to put safety first and use fireworks responsibly.

Fireworks remain a leading cause of preventable holiday injuries each year. Sparklers can reach temperatures above 2,000 degrees, creating a serious burn risk, especially for children.

According to 2025 data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks misuse and malfunction were linked to at least 15 deaths and an estimated 13,000 emergency department-treated injuries. Sparklers accounted for an estimated 1,300 injuries. People ages 15 to 24 were injured most often, with burns to the hands, fingers and head among the most common injuries.

More than 660 permitted fireworks stands will operate statewide this season, with retail sales allowed through 11:59 p.m. July 5. Louisiana law requires fireworks vendors to be licensed and permitted through the SFM and to sell only where fireworks are authorized.

“Public fireworks displays remain the safest way to celebrate,” said DPS Principal, Assistant Chief Bryan J Adams. “If you choose to use consumer fireworks at home, plan ahead, follow safety guidelines and buy only from licensed vendors.”

To help prevent injuries, the Office of State Fire Marshal recommends:

Check local burn bans and avoid fireworks during dry or windy conditions

Use fireworks in open areas at least 200 feet from buildings, vehicles and flammable materials

Never allow children to handle fireworks; consider safer alternatives such as glow sticks or public displays

Never use homemade, altered or illegal fireworks and always follow label instructions

Do not use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs

Light one firework at a time and keep a hose or bucket of water nearby

Soak used fireworks before disposal and never place dry fireworks in the trash

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Have you ever questioned why you’re here? Ever wondered, ‘what am I supposed to be doing with my time on this Earth?’

Each of us has a calling but it may take a while to discover what it is. As a child, I questioned a lot of things that took place during my younger years, especially as I started school. 

It became very apparent that the classroom was going to be a challenge. The biggest problem was that I had no guidance, no one to make sure I did my homework or that I even got up every day to go to school.

But there was one day in my life that I will never forget. It was the day they had Little League baseball tryouts. Even though I was not old enough to play Little League, I still showed up with glove in hand and ready to show anyone that I could play this game. 

I rode my bike up the street to a local ballpark where the tryouts were taking place. I hopped off my bike and ran onto the field and got in the first line of players I saw as they were taking ground balls and throwing them back to a coach. 

When my turn came around, the coach hit the ball to me, and I scooped it up and fired it back at the coach. I’ll never forget his reaction as he waived me over to talk to him. Then he uttered words that I will never forget. 

“Son, I don’t think you’re old enough to play Little League, but I can tell you one thing for sure. You’re going to be one heck of a player when you get older.”

Disappointment that I was not eligible to play baseball yet really hit me hard mentally. Finally, there was something that I knew I was good at! Baseball was going to give me purpose! 

It would be on a baseball field that I would shine. It would be through baseball that my confidence and self-esteem would soar. The baseball field was where I was supposed to be!

School on the other hand would continue to be difficult as I was diagnosed with dyslexia going into the second grade. But because of a couple of great teachers by the name of Mrs. Mickey Sinclair and Mrs. Elwanda Carpenter, my world in the classroom was turned around.

From the third grade on, school curriculum would not be as challenging, but I had to work hard to make passing grades. Studying was a necessary evil in order for me to do good in school and get to play sports.  

My parents understood school was a challenge but expected nothing short of A’s and B’s. C’s were not acceptable and there would be consequences for bringing home one. Mother would threaten to pull me out of sports when a C appeared on a report card. 

But again, I figured out early in life that sports, especially baseball, would be my purpose in life. It would be my calling and my saving grace for me as person. It gave me a feeling of confidence that nothing else could. 

Today when I speak to youth, this is one of the topics I’ll discuss. No matter what it is, find that one thing you’re good at and make that your purpose. Make that the reason you get up every day. Make that your passion whether it’s sports, education, music or, maybe if you’re lucky, it’s bass fishing!

Life can offer us so many opportunities but it’s up to each of us to take advantage when those opportunities roll around. I truly believe that God has a purpose for each of us. 

It just might take some of us longer to figure out exactly what our purpose is, but isn’t that what life is all about? The journeyis the great adventure.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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