Dangers of Raging Red River are Real

Just as unpredictable as the churning Red River are the questions that run rampant after the recent drowning deaths of two young people. Why did six adults crowd into a boat that should only accommodate three? Why embark on a bow fishing outing in the darkest of night? Why wasn't anyone wearing a life jacket? Why wasn't the boat launch closed?

Most of the answers are known only to those on the boat. As for the boat launch's accessibility, however, that question was one that Red River Parish Sheriff Johnny Ray Norman still posed as the massive search got under way April 3.

Norman said he was unaware until this week that as sheriff he could have requested the boat launch's closure during periods of high water. His impression was that was the town's or Red River Waterway Commission's call.

[Bart Latour]

The boat launch should not be closed. It is a public boat launch that should not be closed. Boater safety is the responsibility of the boater not the government. These are our natural resources for us to use and not for the government to dictate when we can or can't use it.

[I Agree]

I agree with that.

[And when you drown]

you'll sue the gov't.

for not putting up signs.

[justanothervoice]

I think that it is a public boat launch, however if they don't close it when it is too dangerous to launch a boat then they would be responsible for the damages it incurred. Such as , if the water is too high, there is a problem with the boat launch (debris, wash out etc) then it should certainly be closed.

That's a public safety issue at hand which leads to someone wanting to sue someone if something happened while it was open, they would then be saying that it should have been closed and because it wasn't they are responsible for the damages.

[shadoe]

Inside the city limits shouldn't some of the responsibility fall on the Mayor or not. I am not sure, just wondering.

[Wrong answer]

People are going to do precisely as they please law or now law. Public or private.

[kuntrygal]

I believe that Sheriff Norman did what he thought he could do. He is a very caring person. I think some people should put themselves in his shoes. Even though he has a job to do, he has to take care of himself and his family. If he didn't go home and get some rest, he wouldn't be capable of making reasonable decisions. He is only human! Obviously, enough of us thought he would do a great job or he wouldn't be in the position he is in.

[scooby]

I know that you people have got to have some gossip to talk about I have lived in deville before and there has got to be something going on there<ie: who is sleeping with who's husband or wife who is doing dope any new people moved into Deville lately

[New Guy]

And when you drown wrote:

you'll sue the gov't.
for not putting up signs.

No when you drown... you will be dead... and therefore unable to sue anyone...:)

[colcat]

New Guy wrote:

<quoted text>
No when you drown... you will be dead... and therefore unable to sue anyone...:)

But that sure as heck won't stop your family from doing it...if you have nothing valuable to contribute then please keep your mouth (or in this case your fingers) to themselves.

I think that the Sheriff did an excellent job too kuntry girl....some always want to place the blame somewhere and he is just an easy target right now...but kudos to Sheriff Norman for a job well done!!

Please keep these families in your thoughts and prayers...Hannah's family so that they might have some type of closure and David's for the tragedy they are still living...

[fossy]

hi colcat...

[New Guy]

colcat wrote:

<quoted text>
But that sure as heck won't stop your family from doing it...if you have nothing valuable to contribute then please keep your mouth (or in this case your fingers) to themselves.
I think that the Sheriff did an excellent job too kuntry girl....some always want to place the blame somewhere and he is just an easy target right now...but kudos to Sheriff Norman for a job well done!!
Please keep these families in your thoughts and prayers...Hannah's family so that they might have some type of closure and David's for the tragedy they are still living...

I knew I was going to get a response like that, and I should have made it more clear in my original post. It was not meant to be offensive or deragatory.
It sounds like we are however in agreement that the Red River Parish Sheriff's Department has handled this very well and done everything in their power to help these families. It is not the responsbility of the Sheriff to make sure bad decisions aren't made... if the ramp had been closed they could have just gone down to another ramp and ended up with the same result....

[colcat]

If it wasn't meant to be deragatory then I apologize for "jumping" on you so to speak New Guy....

[New Guy]

Thank you colcat... I understand what an emotional topic this is, and I should have exercised more tact when responding to "And when you drown"'s quote...

[spellcheck]

deragatory=derogatory...

[hay-hay]

me and a friend are meeting at the boat launch this afternoon around 5:30 pm to pray that hanna surfaces, if you want to join us you are plenty welcome!!

[spellcheck]

me and a friend=A friend and I

[kuntrygal]

I think that no matter what anyone says or who anyone wants to blame, God has a plan for everyone and a reason for his plan. Apparently, it was David and Hannah's time to go, so God took them to be with Him. Tragedies like this are so hard to accept, especially for the family's but I promise it will get easier with time, although it doesn't seem like it.

I wanted to make the comment about Sheriff Norman mainly becaus the several times that I was there to pay my respects to the lost and their loved ones, someone always had something bad to say about him. And, just for the record, I am not kin to him, I just grew up knowing him and his family all my life. They are good people.

[michael]

the red river should be closed down until the river gose down and thats how i feel about it if u have a problem with it my email address is [e-mail]

[bmartin]

The river should be closed? The river cannot be closed...that's like saying the ocean is closed. The public launches can be and are closed at this time but there are many places for private access if one wishes to go on the river.