The National Weather Service in Shreveport issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook on Sunday, March 26 for south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas. A tornado watch was also issued and will remain in effect until 7 pm.

.DAY ONE…Today and tonight.

Showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon across portions of deep east Texas and north central Louisiana. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms can not be ruled out during the afternoon and early evening hours across these areas, with damaging winds and large hail the main threats. These showers and thunderstorms will diminish through the late evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Monday through Saturday.

Showers and thunderstorms look to return to the ArkLaTex overnight Monday into Tuesday, and again late in the week. At this time, no specific hazardous weather is expected.

Natchitoches Police Department officers were dispatched on March 6 around 11 am to 501 Keyser Avenue (Natchitoches Regional Medical Center) in reference to a theft.  Upon officers arrival they made contact with hospital management who said that several items from the gift shop were missing and that several unapproved transactions took place in January and February of this year.

After a thorough investigation detectives arrested Margarita Katherine Trichel (W/F, 35 y.o.a. of Natchitoches) for theft.

If you would like to report suspicious activity please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or if you have additional information in regards to this investigation please contact Detective Morgan Jester at (318) 357-3878. Remember all information shall remain confidential.

How to report an anonymous tip via Natchitoches Crime Stoppers:

You can also report a tip anonymously by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smart phone or by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388.  All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $2,500 for the arrest of an offender.

Photo: File Photo

SHREVEPORT — Sydney Terrell threw a three-hit shutout while Robinson family members led a 12-hit attack Thursday as the Natchitoches Central softball team rolled past Southwood 17-0 and remained perfect in District 1-5A.

Maddie Robinson hit a solo inside-the-park homer to start the onslaught in the top of the first.

A six-run second inning was led by Desi Robinson, Mallory LaCour, Lila Robertson, and Breanna Hale, all with RBI.

Terrell worked the entire four innings run-rule game, striking out three and walking nobody. The Lady Chiefs were error-free.

Desi Robinson contributed an in-the-park home run against Southwood (2-15, 0-5).

Maddie and Morgan Robinson each produced multiple hits for NCHS. Maddie Robinson went 3-for-3 at the plate to set the pace. 

NCHS (19-3, 6-0) will participate in the Tioga Tournament this weekend. The Lady Chiefs will take on Neville (9-9) Saturday at 10 and Grant (9-9) at noon.

They will return home to play Airline (16-6, 6-0)  for the district championship on Tuesday, with a junior varsity game at 4 and the big varsity battle at 5:30.

Voters that live in the Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District number 7 will decide on a Millage Renewal for the Fire District.

This includes all the voters in Precincts 3-1 (Marthaville), 3-2 (Ajax), 3-3 Robeline, and portions of 1-10A (Oak Grove Methodist Church Hall, 3-4 St Ann Church Hall Spanish Lake and 3-8 Robeline Police Jury Building (Los Adias).

The polls will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm Saturday March 25, 2023.

If you have questions on voting information call the Registrar of Voters at 318-357-2211, the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court at 318-352-8152..

The next local election will be Saturday April 29, 2023 and it will be a parish wide election.

David Stamey
Clerk of Court Natchitoches Parish
318-352-8152

A recall petition was filed with the Secretary of State’s office on March 22 for the recall of Patsy Ward Hoover, Mayor of the Village of Natchez, La.

The petition, filed by Joe Walker and Cotina Morris, both of Natchez, listed the reason for recall, “Violating the Lawrason Act, Dictatorship.”

Mayor Hoover said this petition was filed due to her work to clean up the Natchez community, which includes sewer improvements, grants for beautification, and removing abandoned vehicles. According to Hoover, her efforts have been met with some resistance, but she cares about her campaign promise to clean up Natchez if elected. 

To recall an elected official, the petition must be signed by 40 percent of the qualified electors of the voting area where less than 1,000 qualified electors reside in the voting area. 

JOURNAL STAFF

The latest chapter in the ongoing process of churches disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church Denomination played out in Baton Rouge on Thursday.  Nine United Methodist ministers, four of whom live in Caddo Parish, filed suit on March 13 in East Baton Rouge Parish District Court against the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, South Central Jurisdiction.  The hearing of that lawsuit was held Thursday, March 23 and Judge Kelly Balfour dismissed the lawsuit deciding that his court did not have jurisdiction to hear the lawsuit.  The judge followed a doctrine that states civil courts do not have jurisdiction since the United Methodist Church has its own court to address such issues.

The petition alleged that the Louisiana Annual Conference is not using the proper process to hold meetings where local churches vote on disaffiliating and it asked the court to enjoin the disaffiliation process from proceeding.  In their petition, the nine ministers used the First United Methodist Church of Shreveport as their example of what they consider to be a flawed process. 

The Louisiana Annual Conference filed an exception to the petition stating that the civil court does not have jurisdiction to hear this case because the United Methodist Church has its own court that hears these kinds of matters.  A memorandum filed by the Louisiana Annual Conference states that the church court has already decided against persons making claims similar to those made by the nine ministers.

On Monday, March 20, the First United Methodist Church of Shreveport filed an intervention pleading stating that the church has followed the rules regarding disaffiliation and explained the steps taken by that church.  The church stated that a meeting is scheduled for April 16 where a vote is to be taken and if that meeting is postponed, it is unlikely that another meeting can take place before the time for having such meetings has expired.  At the meeting, two-thirds of the persons present must vote to disaffiliate in order for the church to disaffiliate and thereby become a Methodist church, independent from the United Methodist Church. 

The First United Methodist Church of Shreveport is scheduled to vote on April 16, 2023, on whether to disaffiliate or remain a member of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church.  Over 67 Methodist churches in Louisiana have already voted to leave the UMC denomination.

A significant severe weather threat will exist across much of the area Friday, March 24 with ALL SEVERE HAZARDS possible, including strong tornadoes and locally heavy rainfall. The threat for severe weather should end late Friday evening as the storms exit the region to the east.

Sometime late last summer, early fall, I finally found some yard tools that did not require a pull cord, oil mixtures, or any stress whatsoever. I truly never really wanted to own anything like it because I always felt like that was a man’s job.

And I just wasn’t interested in all of that manual labor. I loved to push mow, plant flowers and care for them but heavy duty lifting and cutting did not appeal to me very much unless it was a necessity. Until I found these my special yard tools.

These tools were really cute and trendy. They were lime green, trimmed in black with a sleek stylish look. They came with interchangeable parts and batteries. The battery could be used for the blower, the pole saw or the hedgers. They make more interchangeable tools as well but I am not trying to do too much. That is a man’s job.

When this Spring sprung early, I knew I was missing my window to cut back my Crepe Myrtle trees, large Camellia bushes and other nameless trees. This past weekend I pulled out all of the tools and attempted to trim everything that needed trimming. Once I had everything ready to go, I quickly discovered the pole saw was uncomfortably heavy. Instantly I became salty. Because this is a man’s job.

I was so distraught over the heavy tools that I got my phone out to take pictures of the pole saw so I could post it for sale on Facebook. I was completely defeated, upset, sad, mad and all of the other feelings that come with being distressed over doing a man’s job. Typically when I am feeling overwhelmed and exhausted because of working hard with three jobs and single momming…. it doesn’t take much to make me sensitive about doing what should be a man’s job.

It was definitely poor pitiful me time. I sat on the porch with phone in hand and just cried for a few minutes. My whole yard life was flashing before my eyes. After the pity party, I asked God give me strength to take care of my family and my home and if using a pole saw was not in my future then please bless me with the money to hire someone. And if he did bless me with someone to pole saw my yard up, please make him single, tall, dark and handsome.

After reflecting for a while, not posting the pole saw for sale online, I decided to try again. If I just cut one limb a day every day for a year…it would add up over time. I could “Shawshank Redemption” my yard. One limb, one rock, at a time.

When I dried the tears and quit whining, the Holy Spirit ever so gently reminded me that single parenting is hard and I was made to do hard things. A single mom has to be the mom and the dad on most all occasions. I was also reminded whether it is a woman’s job or man’s job, he has equipped me for both. There is no distinction between the two when you are working hard and taking care of your family. God honors our hard work.

Even though I was initially feeling like a Proverbs 31 woman failure…the Lord helped me pull it together on my porch. Like he always does.

“She evaluates a field and buys it; she plants a vineyard with her earnings. She draws on her strength and reveals her arms are strong. She sees that her profits are good and her lamp never goes out at night.”
Proverbs 31:16-18

St Mary’s Catholic School enthusiastically will host their annual Open House on Wednesday, March 29 from 5-6:30 pm.  Events begin in the school gym. New students and their families, ranging from pre-K to 12th grade, will tour the school campus, visit classrooms and experience the family-like atmosphere of SMS tigerland. Faculty members and current students will be on hand for questions.

RSVP to this event to ensure a spot on the school tour: Mrs. Debbie Norman at 352-8394 or dnorman@smstigers.org.

A ministry of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, SMS is a coed college prep school that forms the whole student: mind, body and soul.

SMS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in: (i) the admission of students; (ii) the offerings of rights, privileges, programs, or activities generally made available to their students; or (iii) the administration of educational policies, admissions policies, loan programs, athletic programs, employment practices or policies, or other school-administered programs.

Natchitoches Farm Bureau youth volunteers helped promote Ag Literacy this month by reading the book Exploring Louisiana Agriculture to local students.  Pictured is Madeline Mitchell, Miss Natchitoches Farm Bureau reading at Marthaville Elementary.  Also shown, is Tatum Roberts, reading to students at Magnolia Bend-Freedom Life Church.  Both Madeline and Tatum are active members of Natchitoches Parish 4-H and serve as Northwest Region Ag Ambassadors.

Any teacher or administrator who wishes to have a Farm Bureau volunteer read at their school, call the local office and leave a message:  318-352-8111 or email:  natchfbqueen@gmail.com.

Northwestern State returns to Southland Conference play this weekend against the power-speed lineup combination of Nicholls. 

First pitch for Friday’s doubleheader in Thibodaux is set for 4 p.m. with Saturday’s series finale scheduled for 12 p.m. All games can be seen on ESPN+ with live stat links also available through www.nsudemons.com. 

The Lady Demons (14-12, 1-2) finish their eight-game road swing with the Nicholls series after a potential season-altering Saturday in Memphis, namely for the offense, but also for perhaps the most important part of the game, the mental side. 

“I thought we were able to do a really good job of continuing to play the game whether we were up or we were down,” head coach Donald Pickett said. “We played the whole entire game in each of the four and I was proud of that, because we’ve been up and down a bit in that mentality this year.” 

NSU was on the verge of being run-ruled in Saturday’s first game, when Laney Roos hit a bases-loaded, two-out double to extend the game in the bottom of the fifth. Although they still went on to lose the game to a hot Indiana squad, three more runs in the ninth set the stage for what would be a breakout type game a few hours later. 

Even through the three-hour down time between games, the Demons held the momentum in the finale against Memphis, scoring four runs in the first inning. The Tigers responded with a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning, but an unphased Demon team batted around for the second straight inning for the biggest offensive inning of the year with seven runs on the way to a 15-5 run-rule win. 

“We continued to play, continued to put pressure on them, continued to score runs until we really opened it up,” Pickett said. “We never took any innings off, were able to finish that game out and that was a big deal for us moving forward. If we can keep that mentality going, there’s going to be good things happening for us.” 

After dropping two of three at home to Lamar two weeks ago to open conference play, the Demons are hopeful the shift in the mental game leads to a reversal on the scoreboard as well. 

Nicholls (17-11, 4-2) enters its third weekend of league play with two series wins under its belt against UIW and at Texas A&M-Commerce thanks to one of the more dynamic offenses in the conference. 

The Colonels have the Southland’s top team batting average of .309 with two of its top hitters in terms of average and power to go along with speed on the bases with a league-best 79 stolen bases which ranks in the top 10 in the country. 

“They’re a much-improved team and have gotten off to a really good start,” Pickett said. “It’s going to be tough going down to Thibodaux and try and get a series win. We’ve got to try and keep them off the bases first and foremost and if they give us some outs we have to take them. If we can do that, I think we’ll have a pretty good chance to win.” 

Colonel run producers Melise Gossen, who leads the conference with eight home runs and a .756 slugging percentage, and Erin Krause, who leads the SLC with a .450 batting average, have benefited from the aggressiveness on the bases to drive in a combined 58 runs this year. 

Nicholls has five players ranked in the top 10 in the conference in steals this season and three in the top five with the best steal percentage of .878 (79-for-90), setting up one of the key matchups of the weekend. 

NSU has allowed just 16 stolen bases this season, tied for second fewest in the conference, due in large part to the defensive work behind the plate of Ashlyn Walker keeping runners in check when they do reach base. She has just one passed ball on the year as well, tied for the fewest in the conference. 

“This game a lot of times still boils down to pitching and catching,” Pickett said. “We’ve got confidence in her that she’ll do a lot of good things back there, but Nicholls is going to do a lot of what the other conference teams do and try and make things happen on the bases.”

The Northwestern State baseball team could not have picked too many farther places to visit for its first weekend road trip of March. 

The Demons, coming off a 7-1 homestand that concluded Tuesday night, open a four-game series against Pac-12 member Oregon at 6:05 p.m. Central on Friday night. The series, which includes a 2:05 p.m. CDT Saturday doubleheader and a 2:05 p.m. CDT Sunday series finale, will air on a live stream through www.GoDucks.com. Free streaming audio of all four games will be available through www.NSUDemons.comor the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free for Apple and Android devices. 

“It’s good to get the guys out and play a really good team in a four-game set on the weekend, which we haven’t done before this season,” seventh-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. “It’s good to get the guys back away from home. I’ve never been to play at Eugene. We went to Corvallis in (20)18, but this will be a good trip.” 

The Demons (13-7) have faced just three Pac-12 members since 1999, splitting four games with Arizona (1-1), UCLA (1-0) and Oregon State (0-1) in that time. The matchup with Oregon State came in the 2018 NCAA Corvallis Regional, which Northwestern State reached by winning the first Southland Conference Tournament title in program history. 

The four-game series with the Ducks (11-7) will be the Demons’ first games in the Pacific Time Zone since that trip to Corvallis. 

Northwestern State will carry one of the nation’s top statistical pitching staffs into the matchup. Following Wednesday’s games, the Demons rank in the top 20 nationally in WHIP (1.04, 4^th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.68, 6^th), walks allowed per nine innings (2.95, 7^th), hits allowed per nine innings (6.41, 7^th), shutouts (3, 8^th) and ERA (3.52, 18^th).  

Individually, Cal Carver leads the nation in fewest hits allowed per nine innings at 3.23 and is third in ERA at 0.59. Right-hander Alex Makarewich holds top-25 marks nationally in strikeouts (41, 15^th), fewest hits allowed per nine innings (4.5, 24^th) and strikeouts per nine innings (14.19, 24^th).  

Sophomore right-hander Chase Prestwich is one off the national lead in victories with four and holds top-100 marks in strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.67, 13^th), WHIP (0.90, 14^th), fewest walks per nine innings (1.08, 19^th), ERA (1.80, 41^st) and fewest hits per nine innings (6.12, 94^th) while junior right-hander Drayton Brown is in the top 100 in three separate categories – strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.6, 4^th), fewest walks per nine innings (1.63, 66^th) and strikeouts (33, 97^th).  

“They’ve worked extremely hard,” Barbier said. “Just seeing Chase Prestwich – taking him out of the role he was comfortable in and coming in and doing what he did in a different role is maturity. Obviously, Cal and Alex have been great. Fro (Kyle Froehlich) has been great in the back end. We’ve got some fantastic strikeout-to-walk numbers. Drayton Brown, he has stats like I’ve never seen. He’s given up (32) baserunners and (23) have scored. If he keeps his walks down and the strikeouts up, those things are going to work out for him.” 

Brown will get a chance to do that in an area where most of the Demons likely have never been – a benefit of a trip Barbier learned during his playing days in Natchitoches from 2003-06. 

“When I played for Mitch Gaspard, they took us to Wichita State, (Texas) A&M, different places that I had never been,” Barbier said. “It’s going to be a good trip.” 

It will also serve as the first Power Five test – and the final non-conference series of the season — for the Demons. 

Said Barbier: “When you play teams that are perceived to be in bigger conferences, the ball moves a little faster, but I think our guys will be ready.” 

Deer season 2022-23 is in the history books and here’s hoping that you have something to hang on the wall to show for your efforts. Don’t have anything? Maybe you’ve been doing it all wrong.

Daniel Colvin has access to 1,300 acres of family property in Union Parish, land not really known for being able to produce trophy bucks. Even so, he has mounts of 18 bucks hanging on his wall scoring between 150 and 170 inches, bucks he has taken from his Union Parish property.           

Is he the luckiest deer hunter around or is he on to something that allows the growth of bucks that size on property not known for the production of trophy bucks?

“I’m serious about getting the best from the deer in my area,” said Colvin. “I work at it all year long and there are several things I have discovered that have helped me and will help anyone who is interested in growing bigger deer no matter what kind of property they hunt.”

Colvin is offering what he has learned to any property owner serious about improving the lot of deer they hunt.

“I’ll contract with property owners to assess their land, see what I think is not helping and offer assistance in getting the right things done. If anyone is serious about wanting to grow bigger deer, the most important thing right off the bat is to control the trigger finger. You shoot a 120-inch buck and he’s never going to make it to 140,” Colvin said.

Controlling what grows on the land as well as supplementing food sources to give deer the best and most nutritional foods is important, he said. Control burning and timber thinning is an easy tool to trigger growing of forage plants that deer prefer. In addition, the use of minerals is of utmost importance, he noted. The principle need for foraging animals is salt because as soon as a deer gets a belly full of browse materials, he’ll head for a salt lick which aids in water retention.

“Minerals such as salt supplemented with calcium phosphorus is important because during the growing season, minerals are pulled from the bone structure to grow antlers and minerals provide those that are depleted,” said Colvin.

The establishing of food plots is another matter that is often not done in the best possible method as a property owner is more likely to take advantage of a logging set to plant a food plot.

“If you plant it and fertilize a small area such as this, deer will eat it up in a month. My food plots are usually three to five acres each and it will draw the deer that are in the area. I’ll often see 25-30 deer a day on my plots. These will draw in the does and when you attract them, especially during the rut, the bucks will follow,” he said.

Colvin keeps records of the deer on his property and he feels this is very important so that he can know what is there. The use of remote cameras is another tool he feels is quite valuable in keeping up with individual deer and seeing what they’re doing from one year to the next.

“I try to get my deer to imprint on a particular spot and my food plots help me accomplish that and cameras help validate it. Several of the deer I have hanging on my wall I have kept up with them for several years from what I see on cameras as well as shed antlers I find,” he said.

Anyone interested in visiting further with Colvin to contract with him on their personal hunting woods can contact him by telephone at 501-554-2824 or searching for him on Facebook.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

Once again, we’re going to venture away from the world of fishing and talk about what our youth of today need the most. A few weeks ago, while listening to a Sunday morning sermon on “life’s temptations” at the Natchitoches First United Methodist Church, our pastor, Gary Willis, asked the congregation a question. “If you knew you could get away with it and no one would find out, what would you do?”

Now this question really intrigued me for some odd reason, and of course my mind immediately went to something sinister like stealing, cheating in a tournament, or even worse causing physical harm to someone who’s given me grief in the past. We all have enemies that we might want to inflict pain upon at some point in our lives, but 95 percent of us never act on any of these sinful ideas. 

Then my mind went in another direction. What if I could do something good for someone and not reveal to them it was me who did the good deed? Nothing says more about a person who does good things for others and never wants the credit.

Examples of a good deed could be something simple like buying someone’s lunch or dinner, paying for another person’s gas or groceries, or maybe assisting the elderly. But then it hit me — the best thing you can do for anyone is give of your time.

For anglers, this could be taking a kid fishing and teaching them the tricks of the trade and helping them to become a better angler, or doing fishing seminars for high school and college youngsters by educating them on the unwritten rules of tournament bass fishing. 

So many youngsters today are growing up without the guidance of both parents. Boys and girls today are missing the male leadership necessary for them to grow into strong productive citizens. While I have nothing but admiration for the single moms and dads who are doing their best to raise this generation, the lack of having both parents’ influence and perspective has affected the devolvement of our young people.

Nothing has a bigger impact on a young boy than a relationship with his dad. In the 1990s the divorce rate started to skyrocket and so many men walked away from their families, leaving young boys looking for a path on their own on how to become a man. This trend has only gotten worse over the last 20 years. We’ve basically lost a whole generation of men who no longer understand their role as a father and how important it is for the self-esteem and development of a boy or girl.  

Temptations for today’s youth are staggering and totally different than my generation. When I was growing up in the 70s, we  had landlines, not cell phones, and although alcohol was available, most just drank beer. Hard alcohol was not the choice of the majority. The hardest drug that was prevalent was marijuana, with speed and cocaine use on the rise by the end of the decade. Today’s drugs are so potent that one small pill might kill you! Drugs like crystal meth, cocaine, and opioids (specifically fentanyl), along with hard alcohol, social media, cell phones and peer pressure are just a few of the temptations this generation is facing.

Kids today are addicted to their phones and are constantly waiting for the “ding” to alert them about the latest incident or derogatory statement that was made about someone. Nothing has been worse for the youth of today than the invention of the cell phone, and no one is to blame but parents themselves.

From this angler’s perspective, no child should be allowed to have a cell phone until they reach high school, and even then, they do not need access to social media until the drinking age of 21. I’ve seen that a bill has been proposed in a few states requiring that a person be 16 years of age to be on social media. This is a good start, but the age should be higher. 

In today’s world, the temptations our youth face are tremendous. It’s important that we exposed this generation to God’s great outdoors. There’s an old saying, “Kids that hunt and fish, don’t deal and steal.”

What a profound statement! Whoever said it, deserves a medal. So many of life’s lessons can be learned through the outdoors like hard work, dedication, and commitment. Other lessons they’ll learn are conservation, wildlife management, survival skills and how to provide for themselves if times get tough.

Whether it’s hunting or fishing, it gives youngsters something to focus on besides all the negative temptations they face daily. Whether it’s related to the outdoors or a particular sport, kids today need hobbies to occupy their time. They need goals that are attainable that will encourage them to pursue their dreams. Bottom line, take the time to introduce a kid to the great outdoors. It just might save their life!  

Until next week, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to wear sunscreen and good protective clothing. Don’t be that guy who thinks they will never get Melanoma, because I was that guy. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

POSITION: PRINCIPAL

SITE LOCATION: NSU Middle Lab School

OVERVIEW OF POSITION: The principal will plan, organize, and implement all educational and supportive activities of the  school, and work in collaboration with Northwestern State University to develop educators as they complete clinical experiences.

SALARY: According to NPSB salary schedule.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be certified or eligible at the time of the application according to Louisiana State department of Education requirements and must have 5 years of teaching experience.

WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda G. Page, Director of Personnel
Natchitoches Parish School Board
310 Royal Street, P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358

DEADLINE: Friday, April 21, 2023; 4:00 p.m.

APPLICATIONS: Application packet should consist of a letter of application, resume’, official transcripts from institutions awarding degrees, a copy of Louisiana Teacher’s Certificate with principal/education leadership endorsement, three (3) letters of reference, (one being from your immediate supervisor).

EOE

Walter White stood in his ransacked living room on a lane in New Mexico’s largest city. One of America’s most wanted men, dying of lung cancer, he surveyed the wreckage and remembered. His thoughts carried him to his 50th birthday party, to a conversation that started him down the dark road of greed, death, and wickedness.

It was only twenty-four months later, but the lines and creases in that haggard face seemed as if at least a decade had passed by. It wasn’t the years but the mileage. His expression clearly told the tale better than words ever could – If I could only do things over.

These are images from AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” which went off the air over a decade ago. It was on over the weekend, and I stopped by for the final frames. The program aired for six seasons and told the story of a gifted high school chemistry teacher who begins manufacturing methamphetamine to secure a future for his family following his diagnosis of terminal cancer.

What follows are 62 episodes of misfortune and like Walter says of chemistry, “a study of transformation.”

Throughout its run, what I found most fascinating about the series was its family dynamic. At its core, it wasn’t a program about drugs, guns, and violence but rather about one family’s struggle to hold together under the heavy weight of lies, mistrust and poor decisions by its heads of household.

Walter justified all his actions by saying they were made for the benefit of his family. It was only in the end, after he had lost everything, including that family, he finally admitted all his actions were done only for one person. “I did it for me. I liked it. I was good at it,” he told his estranged wife midway through the episode. “I was alive.”

Before he made his exit to avoid the police hunting him, he asked with a breaking voice, “May I see her?”

The “her” was his two-year-old daughter, who was slumbering quietly in the next room. Walter gently stroked the child’s hair, exhaled, knowing he would never see her grow, smile, and giggle while opening Christmas presents, talk of boys or have long walks with an aging father.

With only a look of apology to his wife, he made his departure. Then at a corner of the shabby apartment complex where his family now resided, he watched silently as his 16- year-old son disembarked the school bus. In the previous episode, the son had harsh words of finality, not understanding his father’s actions, but hating him for them all the same. Walter watched the young man a final time, so many things to say, so many regrets and so many wrong turns made because of ego.

I won’t go on from there, won’t discuss the final acts of television’s Meth king, because none of those things matter. What mattered about the show, as it does in real life, is the effect we all can have, for good and for ill, on those we hold most dear.

So many times we act in our own best interests. I am no exception. And so many times, our acts harm those we love. Walter White connected with many of us in the beginning because he was an American tragic hero. Motivated by fear and what he deemed a meaningless life, he launched himself on an incalculable flight of recklessness and destruction. Then he lost us in the bloodbath. But in the end, he made a connection once more through his regret and remorse for wronging those he loved, those he took an oath before God to protect and defend.

While the decisions we make every day rarely compare to the dramatic ones of Walter, we are all faced with forks in the road. How many important decisions are based solely on what’s best for “me” rather than what’s best for “us”?

I have two daughters and a wife. I’ve tried to weigh every difficult decision on a scale where I put myself on one side and my three girls on the other. That’s the only way to live life, but it’s a hard way to live life in a world that tells us the individual is all that matters. But nothing is more important than the ones under your roof, the ones you pray for at night and the ones you tuck in before those prayers are said. Who we are is largely attributed to the fair and foul decisions of our parents.

In the final moments of that final episode, Badfinger’s “Baby Blue” began to roll and the lyrics “Guess I got what I deserve” blared.

Walter got what he deserved. But his family did not. And I think that’s the lesson the audience can learn from a television show about methamphetamine use. We may not be considering a dip into the criminal life but remember that even the smallest decisions must be made with equal discernment and consideration. Consideration given to those who have the most to lose.

How do you pick up the pieces of a shattered life? It’s easier to just never let the glass break.

Josh Beavers is a teacher and a writer. He has been recognized five times for excellence in opinion writing by the Louisiana Press Association.

BOM was a platinum sponsor of the Natchitoches Soil & Water Conservation District (NSWCD) annual tree sale. Pictured left to right: BOM’s Melissa Callia and Jarrod Abraham, Benny Dobson, BOM’s Kristi Lee, and TJ Mitcham.