What starts as one streaming service and a free trial can quickly become a monthly budget line item of its own. As subscription-based services continue to multiply, consumers everywhere are discovering that convenience often comes with a recurring charge attached.
This week I’m celebrating fifty two years as a licensed driver. Like most men, I naturally assume I’m a superior driver. The truth is I’m just competent enough not to injure myself or innocent pedestrians. I also spend far too much time reading bumper stickers and watching what other drivers are doing while they’re supposed to be driving. Once upon a time I could read a bumper sticker from a safe distance. Now, if I want to read your bumper, I have to tailgate you. I won’t comment on the silly things you’re doing behind the wheel, but I am working on a book.
Recently I was driving a loaner while my car was being serviced—a luxury model from a certain company that apparently believes drivers need more buttons than a NASA vehicle. It was keyless, of course. To start it, you put your foot on the brake and push a button. I’m used to that with my hybrid. But this wasn’t a hybrid. This was an old-fashioned internal combustion engine, the kind that used to require a little finesse and a lot of prayer.
My grandfather turned me loose behind the wheel about three years before the State of Alabama thought it was a good idea. I learned on what we called the “lonesome road”—a gravel stretch with only one real hazard: the creek running alongside it. Where I grew up, a bayou was a creek, and a creek was something you didn’t want to drive into. The only traffic on that road consisted of grandparents giving driving lessons and children learning how to scare them.
Most of my self-taught Drivers-Ed happened in a 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe. You didn’t so much drive that car as point it in the general direction you hoped to go. Its only luxury was an AM radio. It had a starter button too—but starting that car on a cold morning was a full-body athletic event. You turned the key, depressed the clutch, pushed the starter button, and pumped the gas pedal like you were trying to churn butter. Getting that engine to fire was one of the early rites of male competency.
So imagine my amusement when I started the loaner car with a gentle tap of a button. No pumping the gas. No choke. No carburetor to flood. No vapor lock. If automakers are going to bring back push-button starters, they could at least bring back some of the drama. Cars have changed a lot in fifty-two years. Sometimes I feel like I’m not keeping up. When the service manager asked if I wanted a tutorial on all the features, I said, “I would rather not.”
And that’s when it hit me.
There are times I feel like I’m not keeping up with Jesus either. He asks me to go and do, and I would rather not. He asks me to love and forgive, and I would rather not. He asks me to look honestly at my life, and I would rather not. Sometimes the hardest thing to face is the mirror, and I would rather not.
Preachers feel it too. Some Sundays we leap out of bed ready to preach the love of God. Other Sundays we pull the covers over our head and think about calling in sick to ourselves. On those mornings, “I would rather not” feels like a full liturgy.
And you know what? Jesus understands. In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the cross, He prayed a prayer that sounds an awful lot like “I would rather not.” But He went anyway. For you. For me.
So this Sunday, when you wake up and think about church and feel that tug of “I would rather not,” know this: you’re in good company. Preachers feel it. Jesus felt it. But blessings live on the other side of pushing past it.
How about it.
Whether you combine finances or keep things separate, one thing matters most—having honest, regular conversations about money before it becomes a problem.
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On Christmas Eve in 1870, a group of people, including about 16 prominent citizens of Hamilton, Ohio, gathered in a gambling room on the second floor of “the American Saloon,” an “aristocratic” drinking saloon on High Street directly opposite the Butler County courthouse. Some of the men were playing casino at one table and others, including Thomas “Tom” Myers, were playing a game called faro at another table. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. With the exception of E.D. Banister and Peter Schwab who were in the fervor of the game of casino and Tom who was seated at the faro table, the men began running from the room. Tom stood up, leaned against the wall, and fired his pistol. The bullet from Tom’s pistol struck the ceiling just above the faro table. Mr. Bannister fled from the room and Mr. Schwab slunk to the floor for his own protection. Tom fired another shot which struck the opposite wall. Once sure that Tom was unable to fire his pistol again, Peter approached him and realized Tom had been shot in the abdomen. Peter tried only briefly to get Tom to tell him who had shot him before he ran to get help. Peter soon returned with Dr. Huber, who had been in the room but had fled when he heard gunshots. Dr. Huber also tried to get Tom to explain who had shot him, but Tom was unable to speak. Dr. Huber located a gunshot wound on Tom’s upper abdomen which had severed a main artery. Within moments, 29-year-old Tom died.
Immediately following the affray, all of the witnesses said that Tom “must have either did it himself or had it done.” Based on the testimony of a young boy, Tom’s brother Joseph swore out a warrant for five men including Deputy Marshal Ich Sheely and Thomas McGehan. Before the coroner’s jury, none of the witnesses could identify who shot Tom, but all said that Thomas McGehan had not been in the room before the shooting began. When the accused men learned of the warrant, they turned themselves in. In January 1871, the five men were indicted on the charge of first-degree murder. Clement Vallandigham was one of the four defense attorneys in the trial which began on June 6, 1871. The trial was long because over 120 witnesses had been called to testify.
At about 9 p.m. on June 15, 1871, Clement Vallandigham and fellow defense attorney Andrew McBurney were in their hotel room discussing the case. Clement was sure that Tom had shot himself and decided to show Andrew how Tom could have done it. Clement pulled a pistol from his pocket, turned it towards himself, and pulled the trigger. To his surprise, the pistol discharged. The bullet struck Clement in almost exactly the same place Tom’s bullet had struck him. The wound was fatal. In trying to defend Thomas McGehan by explaining how Tom Myers had killed himself, Clement Vallandigham accidently killed himself too. Based at least in part on Clement’s unfortunate accident, the jury found Thomas McGehan not guilty.
Sources:
1. The Cincinnati Enquirer, December 27, 1870, p.8.
2. The Cincinnati Enquirer, January 31, 1871, p.8.
3. The Cincinnati Enquirer, February 15, 1871, p.8.
4. The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 6, 1871, p.8.
5. The Evening Post (Cleveland, Ohio), June 17, 1871, p.2.
6. The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 19, 1871, p.1.
7. The Cincinnati Enquirer, December 28, 1871, p.8.
8. “Thomas S. Myers,” Find A Grave, accessed May 25, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/
9. “Clement Laird Vallandigham,” Find A Grave, accessed May 25, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/
Long before the infamous Salem Witch Trials captured the public imagination, the first recorded execution for witchcraft in what would become the United States took place on June 10, 1648.
On that date, Margaret Jones of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was executed after being convicted of witchcraft. Historians consider the case one of the earliest documented witchcraft prosecutions in colonial America and a precursor to the more widely known Salem Witch Trials that occurred more than four decades later.
Jones, a midwife and healer, was accused of using witchcraft after some of her patients reportedly experienced unusual reactions to treatments she administered. Court records from the period cited testimony from neighbors and community members who claimed to have witnessed suspicious behavior or unexplained events connected to her.
The execution reflected a period in colonial history when fear of the supernatural, religious beliefs, and limited scientific understanding often influenced legal proceedings. Accusations of witchcraft were not uncommon in Europe and the American colonies during the 17th century, and many individuals faced trials based on circumstantial evidence, rumors, and superstition.
Historians note that the case of Margaret Jones serves as an example of how fear and misinformation can shape public opinion and government actions. Today, scholars continue to study colonial witchcraft cases to better understand the social and cultural forces that contributed to such prosecutions.
The anniversary also arrives at a time when public interest in true crime, historical mysteries, and folklore remains strong. Museums, historians, and educational institutions across the country continue to examine the legacy of witchcraft trials and the lessons they offer about justice, evidence, and public fear.
While the events of June 10, 1648, occurred nearly four centuries ago, they remain an important chapter in early American history and a reminder of the consequences that can arise when suspicion outweighs facts.
Jerry James Ducey
October 17, 1937 – June 7, 2026
Service: Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 1pm at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Marksville.
Janelle Marie Gremillion Smith
July 19, 1962 – June 7, 2026
Service: Monday, June 15, 2026, 11:30am at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Hessmer.
Jeffrey Mark Sons
September 14, 1959 – June 7, 2026
Service: Friday, June 12, 2026, 11am at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Hessmer.
Melvin Paul Dauzat
March 28, 1936 – June 6, 2026
Service: Saturday, June 13, 2026, 3pm at Apostolic Lighthouse Church, Bunkie.
Deatra Jean Miller
June 23, 1962 — June 6, 2026
Service: Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 11am at the Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Marksville.
Avoyelles Online News publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.
The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers from May 25 through May 31.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
School safety is a shared responsibility and remains a top priority all year long, including throughout the summer months.
As summer programs, meetings, maintenance projects, and other activities continue across Avoyelles campuses, it is imperative that all safety procedures and guidelines are followed at all times when entering any school or district facility.
For the safety and security of the students, staff, and visitors:
• All visitors are required to sign in upon arrival
• A valid state-issued ID must be scanned through our visitor management system
• Visitors will receive a visitor’s pass before proceeding anywhere within the building
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and commitment to helping maintain safe and secure learning and working environments across Avoyelles Parish Schools. Safety first. Every campus. Every building. Every time.
By Richard Searles
Education, infrastructure and economic development among top priorities
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Legislature adjourned its 2026 Regular Session after approving a balanced $47 billion state budget focused on education, economic development, infrastructure improvements and debt reduction.
The budget includes approximately $4 billion in State General Fund support for K-12 education and $1.3 billion for higher education. Funding also includes $420 million for early childhood education and $30 million for tutoring programs.
Lawmakers approved more than $360 million in economic development initiatives, including incentives for higher-paying jobs, business site development and workforce recruitment efforts.
The Legislature also allocated more than $500 million for additional road and infrastructure projects, $33 million for Medicaid home and community-based services and $144 million to reduce state retirement debt.
Before adjourning, lawmakers approved a new congressional district map, eliminated vehicle inspection sticker requirements in most parishes, added $50 million to the fortified roof grant program and approved additional protections for minors online.
During the session, legislators considered more than 2,500 measures and sent more than 900 bills to Gov. Jeff Landry for consideration.
The 2026 Regular Session concluded with lawmakers approving major investments in education, infrastructure and economic development while advancing a wide range of policy measures affecting Louisiana residents.
Avoyelles Parish is looking at a forecast window that begins and ends with storms. High temps will stay in the 80s, with lows ranging in the 60s and 70s. The highest chance for rain during this period will be 80% on Saturday.
Wednesday, June 3: Mostly cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day with a 50% chance of rain. High will be 85°F and the overnight low will be 69°F. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening and partly cloudy skies overnight – chance of rain 50%.
Thursday, June 4: Partly cloudy in the morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers later in the day with a 50% chance of rain. The high will be 86°F. Nighttime temperatures will be 69°F with a few clouds and winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Friday, June 5: Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will give way to occasional showers in the afternoon with a 60% chance of rain. The day’s high will be 87°F. Nighttime skies will feature considerable cloudiness with a low of 72°F and winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday, June 6: Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon with a 80% chance of rain. The high will be 85°F. At night, scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then partly cloudy overnight, with a 50% chance of rain and a low of 74°F.
Sunday, June 7: Thunderstorms likely and a 70% chance of rain. The high will be 85°F. Nighttime skies will see widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm early then partly cloudy with a 30% chance of rain and a low of 74°F.
Monday, June 8: Monday will see widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm early then partly cloudy with a 40% chance of rain and a high of 86°F and lows around 73°F. Nighttime weather will feature partly cloudy skies and winds light and variable.
Tuesday, June 9: Variable clouds with thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon, with a 40% chance of rain and a high of 89°F. Tuesday night will see a few clouds and an overnight low 73°F with winds light and variable.
Overall, this will be characterized by a pattern of scattered thunderstorms and no sun. No storms are forecast to be severe, but several days carry significant chances for rain.