Author: cpoole003

TLC and LCU Music present musical revue this weekend

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By JEANNI RITCHIE

A musical revue of songs taken from Broadway’s finest musicals that explore the human search for love will be presented by Theatre Louisiana Christian and LCU Music at the Martin Performing Arts Center this Friday and Saturday.
 
To: Love wherever I may find you is an original production of some of your favorite numbers from top musicals, past and present.
 
The show starts with a command: Go see a musical! The Something Rotten number by the entire cast was a perfect way to start the show.
 
The rousing numbers were a delight, with some I knew and some I discovered for the first time. In addition to Something Rotten, Act I had musical numbers from Anything Goes, Les Misérables, Finding Neverland, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Anastasia, Guys and Dolls, Ragtime, and Westside Side Story.
 
My absolute favorite was Taylor, the Latte Boy performed by Camdyn Fehr from the musical Goldrich, which is now my new obsession. I have to see this show!
 
I’d already felt a deep connection from the time I arrived, any theater always feeling like home but the theater on the LCU campus was extra special. It is my personal origin story, where my parents met and fell in love. My first crib was in LC’s married campus housing. But when Fehr, Italia Sosa, and Amelia Perkins sang I Feel Pretty from West Side Story, I relived another childhood memory.
 
One of my first auditions for community children’s theater was in the gymnasium of North Bayou Rapides Elementary and Jan Reich was directing the production. She taught us the chorus from I Feel Pretty and I’d been feeling anything but pretty. Yet on the stage I discovered I could be anything I wanted to be. I had no idea that I’d end up growing into the entire song, complete with the townspeople calling me the craziest girl on the block! I laughingly concur.
 
The show, arranged and directed by Music Professor Enrico Michael Cannella flowed easily and illuminated the talents of the student cast who not only performed flawlessly but also directed and choreographed various numbers.
 
Act II kept up the same energetic pace and themes of affection with numbers from Caberet, Catch Me If You Can, Jekyll and Hyde, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, and Frozen 2.
 
Cheyenne Blake blew me away in Getting Married Today from Company, although the song title is misleading because she was absolutely, positively NOT getting married!
 
I laughed through Taylor, the Latte Boy: A Response from Goldrich performed by Walls while secretly wondering if my intensity in relationships comes off as stalkerish too! The absurdity of theater is such an incredible way to process some of our deeper thoughts in a lighthearted way.
 
The show’s electrifying ensemble finale led by Blake was The Greatest Showman number that once gave me the most profound message in my mental health journey: This is Me. The empowerment of accepting oneself unapologetically is one we should all embrace. We are all made in God’s image and there is a place for every one of us. Seeing this concept brought to life onstage is healing as well as entertaining.
 
Full cast list: A’melia Perkins, Caleb Williams, Colleen Andrews Williams, Camdyn Fehr, Carmen Taffi, Cayden Walls, Cheyenne Blake, Italia Sosa, and Joseph Johnson.
 
Shows are Friday, April 19 at 7 P.M. and Saturday, April 20 at 2 P.M. Doors open an hour before showtime and tickets can be purchased at www.purplepass.com/tlcmusicshowcase.
 
The Martin Performing Arts Center is located at 1140 College Drive in Pineville.
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a mental health and faith journalist and lifelong theatre fan.

Bolton Seniors need sponsors for graduation activities

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By Jeanni Ritchie

I get budgeting. In fact, I’d just ordered a salmon meal at a local restaurant in a rare outing. Eating out just isn’t in my budget these days.

But I’d submitted an intensive fellowship application I’d worked on for a couple of months and I wanted to celebrate the milestone. I’d had a few deadlines in life that I let slip by and I was proud of myself for completing this one despite the obstacles that kept arising.

The high school seniors in Bolton’s final graduating class have climbed their own mountains to reach their commencement milestone. Some won’t be able to celebrate.

A recent plea on social media to help less-fortunate students with graduating fees is circulating. I tried to remember my own graduation. Had I just brought home a paper from the school and assumed my parents would pay? Was that cap and gown hastily thrown in a box with disdain something another student would’ve lovingly cherished? My biggest concern over prom was finding the perfect hairstyle to match my dress.

It never occurred to me that some might’ve had to miss it because they couldn’t afford to go. I hate my selfish short-sightedness sometimes. If bringing awareness now in some small way can help, I must try.

The cost isn’t even that high for many residents ($110/student) but for over a dozen Bolton seniors, it’s the difference between attending and seeing the photos the next day. Please consider sponsoring a Bolton senior’s graduation fees and show our youth that they matter to our community.

Any amount will be appreciated and can be sent to https://swipesimple.com/links/lnk_3eba7b03. For more information, visit the Bear Update group at https://www.facebook.com/share/p/gGNrKqv72SxekCD2/?mibextid=K35XfP.

April is National Month of Hope

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Laynee Gibbs, Tioga, shares a message of finding hope through her school’s JAG program.
 
By Jeanni Ritchie
 
National Month of Hope was first recognized in 2018. Created by Mothers in Crisis, Inc. it was founded to spread hope around the world.
 
Mothers in Crisis, Inc. supports women and families who are in need by bringing them hope and empowering them to find a new path.
 
Their acronym for HOPE is Helping Others Practice Empowerment. It is through helping others that we often help ourselves.
 
Research indicates that those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm, fewer pains and better health.
 
It’s not just for adults. Studies show that students who performed five acts of kindness a day increased their happiness as well.
 
We can find hope in the everyday. From watching a sunrise to seeing the bud on a new bloom, there is newness of life all around us.
 
Desmond Tutu once famously said, Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.
 
A recent Harvard study showed that 51% of young Americans said that at least several days in the previous two weeks they had felt down, depressed or hopeless. 
 
Laynee Gibbs knew that feeling when her best friend committed suicide in junior high. Sharing her story at a recent Rapides Parish School Board meeting, she told how she found hope through her school’s JAG program which gave her the much needed push to persevere.
 
Sometimes all it takes is a little ray in sunshine in the darkness, a little sprig of green on an otherwise dead tree.
 
Driving around the property with my dad last weekend to count marked trees destined for the wood chipper, I spotted one with green sprouting from its dead branches.
 
“There’s hope; there’s hope,” I’d wailed ripping the ribbon off and whispering to the tree that it was now safe.
 
My dad rolled his eyes at his dramatic overgrown child while my daughter’s husband watched from his kitchen window, undoubtedly thinking that he now had to add tree-hugger to the list of all the things he’d known his mother-in-law to be.
 
I was unapologetic.
 
Hope springs eternal and people need hope now more than ever.
 
So do trees.
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist and nature lover. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com

Drama therapy for mental health

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Visiting with the touring Broadway cast of Pretty Woman post-performance.

PERSPECTIVE/By JEANNI RITCHIE

I can be quite dramatic.
 
I’ve known it for years, a sentiment first echoed by my mother as I spectacularly threw my three-year old body across the floor in a store checkout aisle, my heart broken as she denied my request for a new stuffed animal.
 
My sister chimed in as she got older, frequently frustrated by an older sibling clamoring for attention any way possible. My mental health and addiction issues took up more than my allotted space as a teenager.
 
My children both loved and hated the theatricality of a mother who vacillated between creative supermom and mentally absent parent. I sometimes suffer the consequences from their childhood today.
 
Recognizing my flair for drama and love of the stage, my parents started bringing me to theater auditions when I was seven and obtained annual season passes to our local community theater. Traveling out of town to attend performances was also a frequent occurrence.
 
Even though I didn’t have the older sister I always wanted, I found my role models in characters like Laurey Williams (Oklahoma), Sandy (Grease), and Dainty June (Gypsy).
 
Secretly though, even as a child I was more drawn to Ado Annie, Rizzo, and Gypsy Rose Lee, their complexity matching my own soul in a way that left a confusing imprint on my psyche for decades.
 
I coerced my sister and visiting friends into reenacting musicals in my living room often as a child. I turned community and professional theater opportunities into family affairs as a parent.
 
In between I spent drug-fueled evenings as a teenager belting out Broadway hits to amused partygoers, my inhibitions lessened while performing roles that required no auditions. My mind was desperately seeking the solace slipping into another character can provide; drama therapy is now a widely recognized tool for addiction.
 
A 2024 Drug Abuse Statistics study reports that 788,000 teenagers aged 12- to 17-years-old met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). There is a defined need for reaching adolescents in crisis.
 
In Healing Springs Ranch’s Integrated Addiction Model a facilitator will often instruct an adolescent to enact a fictional character’s emotions in order to help them connect with that particular aspect of a feeling.
 
It is a model I found myself utilizing in middle age as I went through a divorce last year. Whether I was channeling Regina George through self-choreographed musical numbers in my bedroom, Cardi B in car karaoke, or Miranda Lambert on the gym’s treadmill, I used performance art to process overwhelming emotions from current cirmcumstances to resurfaced trauma. Deep diving into Taylor Swift lyrics provided a bridge from hopelessness to the realization that some of life’s struggles were universal.
 
Drama can run the gamut from informally blowing off steam to a professional therapeutic tool. There are over 21,000 licensed drama therapists in the United States dealing with addiction, mental illness, trauma, eating disorders, and more. The North American Drama Therapy Association has a wide range of materials and provider search online.
 
Somewhere in the middle of this spectrum lies community theater. With a familial atmosphere and the bonding experience of putting on a production, theater not only fosters a sense of belonging but has a place for all whether on or off-stage.
 
Break a leg…and strengthen your mind.

Youth and Teen Center Kickoff joy-filled

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By JEANNI RITCHIE

Armani Patterson, 3, was eating an apple when I met her at the City of Alexandria’s Youth and Teen Center Kickoff at the old Boys and Girls Club building on Sylvester Drive yesterday.
 
The Division of Community Services hosted a free fun event for Cenla’s on this beautiful sunny day during the Easter break.
 
While the rest of her family engaged in perfecting a football spiral, Armani showed me her bookmark.
 
The Rapides Parish Library had a table set up with books, markers, and bookmarks to decorate and it was this table that the preschooler deemed her favorite.
 
Other organizations with fun activities and information on resources for the parents included Eckerd Connects, Food Bank of Central Louisiana, and LSUA Ag Center, who handed out frisbees promoting Be Active, Be Healthy.
 
Promoting that active lifestyle mentality was the City of Alexandria’s Mobile Recreation Trailer, its outdoor fun unloaded. In addition to football and basketball, there were two giant Connect Four games on the lawn.
 
After working up an appetite playing, participants were welcomed to the food table as the City of Alexandria provided free sausage dogs, chips, and Kool-Aid. Nearby former Police Chief Howard was acting DJ, spinning tunes including a little Taylor Swift.
 
It was a great way to spend the day!
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.

Family Missions Day teaches kids compassion 

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By Jeanni Ritchie

Community connections are important so I found it fitting to serendipitously be seated next to a former student when my grandson and I arrived at our assigned table during Calvary’s Family Missions Day last month.
 
Over two dozen families gathered to learn more about local and foreign missions. Parents were determined to teach their children that their lives could make a difference in this world.
 
After a delicious lunch, we played Bingo where prizes were won by the children as well as those in impoverished countries. A BINGO won a local child a Popeye’s gift card while a special needs school in sub-Saharan Africa received ten chicks and feed for teachers to train their students in chicken farming and entrepreneurship. Other prizes included much-needed water filters for a province in Southeast Asia, fish in a remote village of Malaysia, and pigs for an impoverished community which empowered families to be able to feed, clothe and educate their children for the first time in their lives. The tales of the difference made in the lives of others can be found at https://www.sendrelief.org.
 
I held my breath after my grandson Jonah yelled “Bingo!” and Missions Director Clay Iles handed him a stuffed cow and gave him the option to receive a real cow or give it away to a family in Uganda. I know how his dad would’ve answered at that age! Fortunately he opted to donate his cow, a much needed relief for communities fighting food insecurity.
 
Iles explained the importance of teaching our children to give. “Following Jesus requires being a missions-minded servant. It’s a great joy to see a church and parents come together to instill those values in our community. They also have learned how to show God’s love to people from all walks of life all over the world.”
 
The Fostering Community is one of those areas Iles was referring to. Awareness is key and teaching kids compassion for others is vital. The Fostering Community’s annual Superhero 5K and Fun Run at Fort Randolph State Park is coming up on April 27th. For more info email info@fosteringcommunity.org.
 
Having worked with many fostering agencies and nonprofits over the last few weeks, I was excited to learn that our local churches support these organizations as well.
 
Other missions the children learned about were Lottie Moon, Cenla Pregnancy Center, church planting, and foreign and domestic missions.
 
The children packed boxes for Shelter Kidz, a ministry designed to provide encouragement, hope, love, hygiene and personal items to children housed in domestic violence shelters. More info about Shelter Kidz can be found at https://shelterkidz.org/.
 
Children’s Director Janet Jewell loved the enthusiasm of the kids as they excitedly picked out items for the boxes. “It was great to see children filling boxes of items to help children their age who are living in unfortunate circumstances.”
 
Each family also decorated a card and flower pot while the kids planted an Easter bloom that was then hand-delivered to homebound members of the community. It was the most rewarding part of the program for me, my grandchild seeing the difference he made for someone else during our visit.
 
It was a perfect way to share God’s love and to teach children the extraordinary value of being kind.
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a faith and mental health journalist from Central Louisiana.

TONIGHT: Mysterious Circus arrives in Cenla

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By JEANNIE RITCHIE

The Mysterious Circus rolled into Alexandria this week with its first show under the big top last night.
 
Excitement was in the air as anticipated mounted. They warmed us up with my favorite indoor recess activity: the Cha Cha Slide. No one seemed sure if it was okay to stand up in the stadium seating until they saw me in the aisle; one absolutely cannot do the Cha Cha Slide seated! We all left stomped and Charlie Brown’d our way to a fever pitch.
 
Including Brody Myers, 12, who’d come to do something fun with his family.
 
I asked Jessie Shirley, 11, what he was looking forward to the most. “The dirt bikes in the cage and the bicycle on the high wire.”
 
I looked to the top of the tent. I was pretty sure I’d be holding my breath when we reached that point. I was right; my maternal nature even applies to circus performers!
 
Nevaeh Lofton, 13, was excited for the opportunity to spend time with loved ones. “I just wanted to catch the show and spend time with family and friends.”
 
Families all under the big top echoed the sentiment as laughter reigned supreme through daredevil acts, humorous clowns, aerial acrobatics, juggling, and that nail-biting high wire act.
 
Connor Herron, 7, was brought on stage to be a part of the show. Performing with our favorite clown, he was a true showman.
 
Asked afterward about his favorite part of performing under the big top, Connor answered laughing. “It was so funny when the clown kept trying to distract me!”
 
The show continues through April 14 with Monday-Friday shows at 7:30 PM. Saturday shows are at 2 PM, 5 PM, and 7:45 PM. Sunday shows are at 2 PM and 4:30 PM.
 
Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at https://tickets.themysteriouscircus.com or onsite.
 
The Alexandria Mall is located at 3437 Masonic Drive.
 
Turn off the screens, bring your family, and make some memories to last a lifetime.
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a Louisiana journalist and perennial Peter Pan. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.

Pancake Breakfast benefits foster care ministry

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By Jeanni Ritchie
 
Calories for a cause don’t count.
 
At least that’s what I told myself as I pulled up to the Spring Vendor Market at the Book Nook in Ball last week-end to support Starfish Ministries, Cenla’s newest foster care ministry designed to fill the gaps in the foster care system.
 
Speaking with founder Jessica Lachney over a plate of pancakes, she shared their vision. “Starfish Ministries was shaped by a group of passionate individuals from the Central Louisiana community with a heart for the at-risk populations, more specifically at-risk youth, single parents, and the foster care system. At the heart of the Starfish mission is the ultimate commitment to provide safe, nurturing, and impactful environments and resources for children entering foster care.”
 
Fundraising efforts are currently to designed to meet the needs of the first “leg” of the ministry. “In order to mitigate any further trauma exposure for the children who’ve been removed from their homes, Starfish has outfitted a home with means to meet the emergent needs of both the children and social workers. The home is open for immediate, temporary placement for the children to receive a hot meal, bath, clothing
and comforting home environment. A private office space is available for social workers to utilize on site for case management.”
 
My family had come with me and while my grandson was fascinated with face painting and my mom got lost in the books, it was the gun raffle that caught my dad’s eye. They told us they’d been put in Facebook jail 27,000 times for promoting that fundraiser. I laughed; I recently went to TikTok jail for playing Wild West with another grandson.
 
I only know toy guns but my dad assured me the real guns listed were well worth the $30 ticket. With a different gun raffled off every day in April, one ticket gets you entered for each daily drawing. Raffle tickets can be bought here: https://tr.ee/z5gd2jEZqT
 
While Harper Perkins, 7, was passing out butter and syrup to everyone, Amber Sayer shared another upcoming fundraiser. “We hope to continue this great community support with a Bingo Night April 12 at the Main Street Community Center in Pineville at 6 PM. We will have concession foods and community resource vendors.”
 
This is one thing I’ve noticed often at these events. They all promote each other. It’s a beautiful thing to see.
 
On my way out, I asked a set of twins why they’d come to get a pancake breakfast. Their collective answers perfectly represented what I call my pragmatic idealistic personality.
 
“To help kids in foster care,” John Mark Schwartz said while his twin sister Ruby was much more practical. “Because I was hungry.”
 
Read more about Starfish Ministries here: https://linktr.ee/starfishministries.
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a community-centric journalist and former educator. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.

Opportunity Youth Day TODAY at Main Library

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By JEANNI RITCHIE

Eckerd Connects presents Opportunity Youth Day for ages 16-24 at the Rapides Parish Main Library Branch today from 1-3 p.m.
 
The event is free and open to the public and is funded in part by The Rapides Foundation. The first 25 youth to RSVP and attend will receive a free arcade pass from Wayback’s Arcade. To pre-register call or text 318-449-0448. You may also register at the door.
 
Games and snacks will be provided. A financial literacy workshop will be conducted by Red River Bank.
 
My father has requested I attend.
 
In all seriousness, financial accountability is vital to creating a secure future. According to Annuity.com, 75% of teens lack confidence in their knowledge of personal finance.
 
Financial responsibility is also important to mental health management. A number of studies have demonstrated a link between financial worries and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
 
Eckerd Connects’ Youth Opportunity Program and Red River Bank want to provide Cenla’s youth with every opportunity for success.
 
The Rapides Parish Main Library Branch is located at 411 Washington Street, Alexandria.
 
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.

City Park Players holding auditions 

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By JEANNIE RITCHIE

More than a dozen talented Cenla residents showed up for City Park Players’ latest auditions for Star on the Door, a comedy by Jack Sharkey and Leo W. Sears about cinema legend Doreen Burnside in a series of funny mishaps and mayhems while making her Broadway debut.
 
Directed by husband and wife team Mike White and Samantha O’Banion, there are 2 females and 4 males needed for the cast.
 
Characters:
Beverly – Doreen’s personal assistant, attractive, 28
Mel Thorn – The producer of The Inspector and the Aunt, short, balding, 55
Doreen Lewis – Eccentric, flamboyant actress, looks younger than her age, 60
Thomas – Doreen’s son, handsome, 35
Paul Burnside – Doreen’s volatile leading man, 57
Wolfgang Ferris – Hot-tempered Bavarian playwright of The Inspector and the Aunt, 40
 
It has been years since I’ve done a show. I was glad that I was there to cover it for the Rapides Parish Journal and not tp audition; I still can’t wrap my head around that fact that I would’ve been handed the sides for Doreen instead of Beverly!
 
Community theatre has something for everyone. It is especially beneficial to mental health positivity. The camaraderie while putting on a show is healing; the benefits of free drama therapy unbeatable.
 
Whether onstage or behind the scenes, there’s something for everyone in theatre. City Park Players welcomes all with open arms.
 
Auditions conclude Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Kress Theatre, 1102 3rd St. in Alexandria.
 
For City Park Players audition FAQs, visit: cpptheatre.com/auditions
 
Performances will be held May 30- June 9.
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a mental health journalist and former Little Theatre and City Park Players cast member. 

Bolton High teachers mass axed; future uncertain

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OPINION/By JEANNI RITCHIE
 
Go Bears!
 
It took me almost 40 years to proudly support my alma mater. It was, after all, my origin story for years of addiction.
 
Sadly, after this year, Bolton High School will cease to exist as it becomes the K-12 Bolton Academy Academic and Performing Arts Magnet, integrating Phoenix Magnet and Rapides Academy as well in the 2025-2026 school year in an unpopular plan in Rapides Parish. 
 
When I moved back to Alexandria last year after nearly two decades out-of-state, I didn’t know any of this. I just knew I had to go back to Bolton as part of my healing journey.
 
I sought out stories involving fun events at BHS. It was supposed to be lighthearted positivity to counteract some of the darkest days of my past.
 
What I found was that there are faithful employees of the Rapides Parish School system now living out their own dark days.
 
Whether they have been teaching for one year or thirty, all of Bolton’s teachers and paraprofessionals have been given their pink slips and told they must reapply. Some weren’t even allowed to finish out their current contracts, having been asked to turn in their keys and clean out their desks to make room for new hires.
 
Insult was added to injury when teachers were publicly blamed for their own termination. Low performance school scores were cited as the reason Bolton teachers must reapply; Phoenix Magnet and Rapides Academy faculty jobs are reportedly secure.
 
I’ve taught in a few school systems with vastly different population subsets; it is not hard to understand that historically underserved student populations are going to score lower than those who have more opportunities in life or have qualified behaviorally and academically for a magnet school.
 
Even teachers who recently left higher-performing schools to pioneer the soon-to-be defunct Bolton Conservatory have been axed, another casualty of this community debacle being discussed by residents all over town.
 
I reached out to Superintendent Jeff Powell, whose lack of transparency has marred his tenure in the Rapides Parish School System and divided the school board on many issues. Initially ignored, I did receive a reply shortly after asking State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley for a statement regarding the legality of the highly selective terminations. Powell asked for a meeting to explain his vision; I’d planned to go. That is, after all, professional journalism.
 
But I’m not a professional journalist. I’m a former educator turned full-time writer and my vision already seems pretty clear.
 
What I see are dedicated teachers losing hope as they face the uncertainty of losing their livelihood and their careers.
 
I see a high school with a fraction of the population from my youth. A recent request by a school board member to allow current students to remain at Bolton was rejected. As of press, approximately 120 students have applied for the 2024-2025 school year in a school that once served over 1,000 students.
 
I also see another Cenla landmark falling into disrepair with caution tape denying access to several buildings. The safety concerns for the school on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places mount as project bids for Phase 1 renovations from a 2022 bond were due on March 24, 2024.
 
Residents from District 62 were shown planned renovation phases prior to voting on the bond for their zoned schools. After the bond passed, parents were informed of the previously planned decision by the superintendent to close several schools and rezone students. Such misleading actions further divide a community already openly decrying a return to racial segregation in this Louisiana parish.
 
I see and hear Phoenix and Rapides parents searching for alternatives, seeking private and homeschooling options.
 
I see students with unnecessary anxiety over their educational future as they are sent to rival schools in a city where violence is 123% higher than the national average. 
 
I see teachers leaving the educational field completely or silenced by fears of retaliation while seeking positions, often with significant pay cuts, elsewhere in the district.
 
I see users illegally being banned from public social media pages when voicing criticism.
 
There are court precedents prohibiting such activity, including a recent Supreme Court ruling. When a public page blocks critics because of their viewpoint, it is a violation of the First Amendment and punishable by a fine and/or page deactivation. Napoleonic law is no exclusion to first amendment rights.
 
All of this turmoil has resulted in a slate of pending lawsuits against the Rapides Parish School system by disgruntled parents and employees.
 
We must join together for the good of our community.
 
This is America.
 
We must protect our children. We need to speak up for our teachers.
 
Stand up and make your voice heard.
 
The next school board meeting is April 9 at 5 p.m.. On the agenda is Item 7: Motion to approve the number of schools, grade configuration, and attendance zones for the 2024-2025 school year. Make your voice heard if you are tired of the lack of transparency in the current administration and the lack of checks and balances within the Rapides Parish School Superintendent’s office.
 
Sign the online petition now to protect our teachers and show your support: Petition Save our teachers from unfair mass firing and unconstitutional retaliationipetitions.com
 
Jeanni Ritchie, a contributing writer for the Rapides Parish Journal, can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.

Lauren Vaughn 5K draws over 800 supporters

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By Jeanni Ritchie

I was on my way to a pancake breakfast with my grandson last weekend when I told him we had to make a quick stop at ASH. Expecting to see a few people lined up to run in a 5K memorializing Lauren Vaughn, a nursing student who’d been killed in a car accident last year, I was shocked when I could barely find a parking spot. 

Over 800 people had shown up to run with even more manning tables and tents! 

It was no quick trip after all. Walking around the many tents set up, it became obvious that this was no ordinary life being celebrated. Lauren Vaughn was beloved by all. 

Friends, family, and community members lined up to race, serve food to runners, or hand out gift bags to attendees. A photo backdrop was erected and police escorts lined the route to safety for the racers. 

I spent some time at the Northwestern State University Cenla Campus tent. Nursing students set up a display bringing awareness to the community of tips and resources to manage areas of mental health. 

Alexis Fowler of Hineston explained. “This is our service project for the year. We have to select a topic and we chose to help those suffering with depression, anxiety, and grief.”   

In doing so, they honored Lauren who’d been a student in the accelerated Bachelor to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program on the Northwestern Shreveport campus. Their mission was to help others. 

I was even given a rose to commemorate my own daughter’s life, cut short a little over thirty years ago. Remembering our loved ones in positive ways helps us grieve. This service project was designed for healing. 

It was a project Lauren would’ve endorsed. “Lolo” or “LV” as she was lovingly called is now Forever 22 to her friends and family and she loved helping others. She was a talented softball player, a gifted student, a loving daughter, a protective sister, a doting aunt, a fierce friend, and a God-fearing Christian. Her smile literally brightened every room she walk in to and her dimples were like the cherry on top. 

It was only fitting to see bright smiles on the faces of all the supporters who came out to celebrate her life. 

To read more about the LV5K, visit https://www.lv5k.com. 

Jeanni Ritchie can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com. 

Butterfly Release honors loved ones, supports Hospice Care

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By Jeanni Ritchie

Grief is tough.
 
It can be made even harder with the pain of facing an inevitable end and the financial burden that often accompanies it.
 
CHRISTUS Hospice St. Frances Cabrini and Heart of Hospice Alexandria understand that and are doing their part to ease that hardship through a beautiful event called Celebration of Life – Butterfly Release to honor lost loved ones in our community.
 
This event is open to the public and will be held this Sunday, April 7 from 2-4 PM at 1001 Bayou Place, Alexandria, LA.
 
• Butterflies can be purchased for $20 each.
• T-shirts $20 regular sizes/$22 plus sizes
• Tickets will be available for $1 each to purchase popcorn, pickles, and participate in activities.
• Activities include: scrapbooking table,
photo booth, and face painting
• Complimentary cookies, cupcakes, tea, and lemonade will be available for patrons.
• Crazy 4 Crepes Food truck
• Lemonade Stand
 
All Proceeds go to the Hospice Promise Foundation. The Hospice Promise Foundation assists patients and families with essential, non-hospice related expenses they are unable to afford themselves – such as rent and utility bills, emergency repairs, personal care items and food assistance. The foundation also provides funding for patients’ last wishes, burial assistance, and community projects like bereavement camps for children and educational outreach programs for end-of-life care.
 
This program is a lifesaver for patients and their families during an already difficult time. Not only do they provide assistance to meet basic needs, they provide hope during some of life’s darkest hours for those dying and their caregivers.
 
What better way to celebrate a loved one’s memory than a butterfly release, the symbol of a new life of freedom from their pain here on earth.
 
 
You can also register onsite beginning at 1:30 PM.
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a native of Alexandria, LA who will be releasing a butterfly in memory of her daughter Kacey Lauren Goss (November 1993-January 1994). You can read about her faith journey throughout grief at www.faithunfaded.com.

Celebrate the love of Indian food at your local library

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By Jeanni Ritchie

I loved “Around the World” days when I was teaching third grade. Each student did a report and brought food representing a different country. It is nice to understand and appreciate different cultures and what better way than over a meal.
 
The Rapides Parish Library will present “For The Love of Food” on Monday, April 1 from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Main Branch, 411 Washington St. in Alexandria.
 
Come and learn about Indian Cuisine, a symphony of flavors, some color, some spice, some heat, and an abundance of taste! To know Indian cooking is to know the spices. Learn about these spices and their benefits during a cooking demonstration from “Imagine, Explore & Create” by Amy Pillarisetti, Lal Mirch School of Cooking.
 
The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited so registration is required.
 
For more information contact 318-445-2411 or register online at https://www.rpl.org. You can also register in person at any of the Rapides Parish Library branches.
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a former educator, former librarian, and current foodie.

Pancake Breakfast this Saturday to benefit children in foster care

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By Jeanni Ritchie

“Sometimes they have to sleep on couches in the social worker’s office.”
 
That was the statement Starfish Ministries founder Jessica Lachney said during our conversation that really got my attention.
 
Lachney was referring to the gap between removal from a child’s home and placement in a foster home. It is precisely why Starfish Ministries was founded in 2023.
 
At the heart of the Starfish mission is a commitment to provide a safe, nurturing, and impactful environment and for children entering foster care. They offer an emergency “landing zone” for what is referred to as removal day.
 
“Removal day can be a traumatic experience when a child of any age is taken from the only home they have ever known and brought into care,” Lachney explains.
 
This is why Starfish Ministries has outfitted a home to make this difficult transition a little easier on children who face traumatic upheaval.
 
To help support this mission they will be hosting a pancake breakfast this Saturday.
 
The breakfast will be from 8-11 AM at The Book Nook, 6025 Monroe Hwy Ball, LA, during the Spring Fling Outdoor Vendor Market. 
 
Cost is $10 and comes with pancakes, sausage links, and scrambled eggs. Proceeds will be used to support this mission dedicated to serving the children of Central Louisiana in these frightening situations.
 
If you are unable to attend, you can help in other ways. Supporters can donate, sign up to become a volunteer, and read more about this incredible organization here: https://linktr.ee/starfishministries
 
Jeanni Ritchie can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com with information about upcoming events that serve the Central Louisiana community.

LANE CLOSURE: US 167 Southbound, Pineville Expressway

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), advises the public that Bridge #023-01-0274-2 on US 167 (SB) Pineville Expressway) will be reduced to one lane for joint repairs from 8:30 AM – 4 PM on Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 3. The bridge is located on US 167, Southbound, Pineville Expressway over frontage roads, city street, and KCS railroad. It’s located 0.82 miles north of the Red River adjacent to the Louisiana Christian University.

**Please note the entrance ramp to US 167 (SB) Pineville Expressway) located adjacent to Louisiana Christian University will be closed during the lane closures.**

Permit/Detour section
No detour will be necessary as the bridge will be reduced to one 12’ lane. Please no wide loads.

Safety Reminder
DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution around the construction sites and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

Additional Information
Motorists can access the latest updates on real-time traffic and road conditions using the 511 Traveler Information System by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region on which they are seeking information. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Travelers can also access this information by visiting the 511 Traveler Information Web site at http://www.511la.org. Additionally, you can follow the Traffic Management Center on Twitter: (@Alex Traffic). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website @ http://www.dotd.la.gov and the DOTD Facebook page.
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 2:49:50 PM
Rapides Parish, US-167 (SB) Pineville Expressway
Milepost 2.74, Bridge # 023-01-0274-2
Control Section 023-01
Recall No. 039620

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), advises the public that Bridge #023-01-0274-2 on US 167 (SB) Pineville Expressway) will be reduced to one lane for joint repairs from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 and Wednesday, April 3, 2024. The bridge is located on US 167, Southbound, Pineville Expressway over frontage roads, city street, and KCS railroad. It’s located 0.82 miles north of the Red River adjacent to the Louisiana Christian University.

**Please note the entrance ramp to US 167 (SB) Pineville Expressway) located adjacent to Louisiana Christian University will be closed during the lane closures.**

Permit/Detour section
No detour will be necessary as the bridge will be reduced to one 12’ lane. Please no wide loads.

Safety Reminder
DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution around the construction sites and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

Additional Information
Motorists can access the latest updates on real-time traffic and road conditions using the 511 Traveler Information System by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region on which they are seeking information. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Travelers can also access this information by visiting the 511 Traveler Information Web site at http://www.511la.org. Additionally, you can follow the Traffic Management Center on Twitter: (@Alex Traffic). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website @ http://www.dotd.la.gov and the DOTD Facebook page.

‘Superman killed God’ topic of LCU’s final C3 for spring

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Dr. Renton Rathun, director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, will be the speaker for the final Christ, Church, Culture event of the spring 2024 semester.

The C3 will be held Monday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Guinn Auditorium and is free and open to the public.

His topic will be “How Superman Killed God: the Twenty-First Century Mind.”

He will also be the Chapel speaker on Tuesday, April 9 at 11 a.m., speaking from Ephesians 2:1-9 on “Why I am a Christian.”

Renton Rathbun is committed to developing a biblical worldview in faculty, staff, and students which begins in the heart, is refined by the mind, and leads to service for others.

As the director of BJU’s Center for Biblical Worldview, Renton works to support the mission of the university by helping align the entire organization with one unified vision of biblical worldview.

He has been a college professor for more than 20 years teaching in both public and Christian colleges and universities. He is a national speaker on biblical worldview.

Renton holds a B.S. in English education and an M.A. in interpretative speech from BJU. He has an M.F.A. in creative writing from Minnesota State University, an M.A. in philosophy from the University of Toledo, a Th.M. in systematic theology from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in apologetics from Westminster Theological Seminary.

LCU’s Jenkins Center for Evangelism & Missions sponsors several C3 seminars annually.

Front Yard Food Trucks event – tonight!

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By JEANNI RITCHIE

Front Yard Food Trucks at 5233 Hwy. 28 E in Pineville is out to change the landscape of our community one meal at a time. I spoke with founder Joel Koncinsky about his vision.
 
“We saw an opportunity here to provide something unique for the community: a gathering space to enjoy great food together.” The “we” Joel refers to is his father and brother.
 
“We are a family of dreamers.” Joel went on to explain his family’s connection both to the land and its meal-sharing legacy.
 
“What’s wild is the same space that vendors set up is the same place that I picked produce out of my dad’s garden growing up. This is carrying on that legacy and heritage.”
 
Koncinsky is wanting to share this legacy while making a difference in the community. “We listened to the community to see what they wanted. They wanted a market where they could swing by and grab locally sourced products.”
 
A recent visit to what’s normally billed as Third Thursday showed an abundance of offerings. In addition to the food trucks, there were vendor tables set up with jewelry, baked goods, medicinal extracts, non-profit information, and more. There was even an inflatable axe set up for kids young and old to play before the monthly movie started on the giant outdoor screen.
 
“We’re not just a parking lot where trucks can setup. We’re a community of support. We want this to be even more of a gathering space where people come to enjoy the space with each other.”
 
Sisters Adelia, 4, and Aurelia Candilora, 2, were doing just that. After talking about our shared love of grilled cheese sandwiches and twirling, Adelia turned my focus to more serious matters.
 
“I’m getting my own bedroom,” she’d declared. Her parents tried to redirect but I tracked. Laughing, I shared my middle daughter’s lament growing up. The Jan Brady of the girls, she’d always had to share a room with either her older or younger sister. Every time I pulled the shopping list off the refrigerator to go to the grocery store, I’d discover a small handwritten entry.
 
My own room.
 
I wished her well in her endeavor then headed to the grilled cheese food truck after getting two thumbs up on their food review. Enjoying the delectable creation, I walked around meeting friends, old and new.
 
It was community at its finest.
 
Third Thursday is a week later this month and renamed Pre-Easter Event, bad weather postponing it from its usual spot on the calendar. Their mission in the community is too important to cancel completely. 
 
Tonight’s events include:
 
Guided painting by “For the Love of Alexandria” from 5:30-7 PM. Tell a friend & signup here.
 
Ol Mel’s Farm petting zoo & picture op with the Easter bunny is also available for $5 from 4-7 PM.
 
The food truck lineup includes (4-7 PM):
 
Pretty Baked
Marky D’z Food Bus
The Sugar Shack
Sweet Lemons Lemonade
 
The event lineup includes (4-7 PM):
 
Papillon Savon
Jubilee Justice
Sweet Creations Bakehouse
Rising Moon Apothecary
ALL CAPS Gourmet Mushrooms
Ruby’s Sweets & Treats
Bohemian Jewel Craft
Haille’s Hot Tamales
Thunder Hoof Pottery
Mangia’s Microgreens
Revolution Meat Co.
International Student Exchange
Melissa Leone (Mary Kay)
 
Front Yard Food Trucks has a little something for everyone as they continue to promote their mission of #supportinglocal.
 
Come out and support them!
 
Jeanni Ritchie is a community-centric journalist from Louisiana. 

Police investigate stabbing on MacArthur Drive

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The Alexandria Police Department responded to the 1200 block of MacArthur Drive on March 23 around 1:20 am in reference to an individual suffering from a stab wound.  The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at a local hospital.

This is currently an ongoing investigation.

If anyone has any information about this incident or any other type of crime in the Alexandria area, please contact the Alexandria Police Detective Division at the phone number (318) 441-6416, or APD Dispatch (318) 441-6559. You may also email information to detectives at: APDDetectives@cityofalex.com.

For a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers of CenLa at (318) 443-7867. The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster App can also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for a cash reward at www.p3tips.com/community/mobile.

Rapides Academy Mathlete team competes at NSU Demon Math Classic

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Rapides Academy’s 8th Grade Mathletes recently competed in Natchitoches at the NSU Demon Math Classic and the team made it to the semifinals. Special Congratulations to Tripp and Beau, who were recognized as team all-stars for their performance in quiz bowl and to Tripp, again, who was recognized for his performance on the individual test. Shoutout to Mathlete sponsors Gotreaux and Penfield for their support and dedication to the students.

What does it take to be a meteorologist?

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Students in Becca Foltz’s class at Nachman Elementary are learning what it takes to look at data and make predictions.
 
In her lesson, students assigned a mission to save orangutans and move them to the best area they can find that fits their habitat and supplies their needs.
 
The Wildlife Protection Organization is asking these young meteorologists to collect weather data from Arc, Blue, and Creek Islands. When the organization showed these students a weather report of the three islands, the report showed the temperature and amount of precipitation for one day on each island. The students had to determine which island provided the rainiest and hottest weather for the orangutans to live on.
 
Once students were divided into groups, they worked on how to measure rainfall amounts to collect data. To do this, students used rain cups with holes in the bottom to make it rain over two different cups, Cup X and Cup Y.
 
After the students made it rain, they would then check out how much rain fell inside the cups by measuring it with either a pencil, popsicle stick, or dice. As they measured the rain, they would collect their measurements, data, and other important observations and compare notes with others in their groups.
 
Finally, the students gathered back together as a class, discussed what method they preferred to use for measuring, understood the importance of collecting data, and learned about other tools that meteorologists use. This interactive lesson allowed students to learn about a career path, science, and reasoning.