The Ruston Rotary Club will host a Jambalaya Fundraiser in the Super 1 Parking lot, March 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Funds raised will be used for Rotary Club community related service. Some of these projects include Coats for Kids, dictionaries for third graders, student scholarships and backpacks for needy students.
The Ruston Rotary Coats for Kids program donated 170 coats for elementary students in Lincoln and Jackson parishes in coordination with Ruston Walmart and Jonesboro State Bank. This year the club will give out four $2,000 scholarships for high school students attending college in the fall.
Rotarians pick up food backpacks every Thursday during the school year at Super 1 and drop them off at Hillcrest Elementary for needy students to take home on Friday for meals over the weekend. During the fall, Rotarians give Lincoln Parish third grade students their very own dictionary to keep for in the classroom or at home. Rotarians are also involved in the Med-Camp Fall Halloween Bash held at Camp Alabama in the Douglas community every year the Saturday before Halloween.
This year the Ruston Rotary club formed a Interact Club at Choudrant High School and assisted with Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) for high school students at the Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center (OWL) in Dubach the last week in June. Approximately 75 high school sophomore and juniors attend from around North Louisiana each year for the week-long event. The Jambalaya Fundraiser will help full these local projects for Ruston and the surrounding area.
Tickets are $10 for per meal, that features jambalaya, corn and green beans. Jambalaya trays can be ordered for delivery to your business or organization between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30. Cost is $100 for 10 servings of jambalaya or $200 for 20 servings of jambalaya. Trays may also be picked at the Super 1 parking lot from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You can order ahead by calling Rusty Wilfong at 318-265-0985 or Jerry Pye at 318-282-5278 or any Ruston Rotary member. You may also buy a plate to go for $10 or a quart container of Jambalaya for $15 the day of the event.
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Description: Responsible for the administration of pharmacological, diagnostic, and therapeutic agents related to respiratory care procedures necessary to implement treatment, disease prevention, pulmonary rehabilitative, or diagnostic regimen prescribed by a physician. Provides proper assessment and monitoring of respiratory care treatments. Collaborates with other professional disciplines to ensure effective and efficient patient care delivery to achieve desired patient outcomes. Population: provides cardiac diagnostic and respiratory therapy services for the in-patient and out-patient population 24 hours per day. The patient population served by Respiratory Care Department consists of newborn, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients requiring cardiac, respiratory care, services, treatment of testing to maintain optimum physiological maintenance of the cardiac and respiratory systems.
Benefits: Competitive salaries, 401k, benefits
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Charles Wayne Terry October 8, 1966 – March 16, 2023 Visitation: First Baptist Church, Ruston, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Service: First Baptist Church, Ruston, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 2:00 pm
Bennie Loflin, Sr. June 18, 1929 – March 17, 2023 Services pending
Thuyen Do December 10, 1968 – March 16, 2023 Services pending
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Attending Thursday’s Library Board of Control meeting were (from left to right) Mary Jo Cook, Jan Canterbury, Diana Humphries, Ben Jones, Amy Miller, Sandra Dupree, Richard Durrett and Library Director Jeremy Bolom. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
It was all discussion with no actions as the Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control met Thursday in the Community Room of the LPL.
Committees reports played a big role in those discussions, and LPL Events Center committee chair Bill Jones began the meeting talking about a potential team-up with the Ruston Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau to take the Events Center in a different and more lucrative direction.
During January’s Board of Control meeting, Jones told memes that preliminary talks have been held with CVB Director Amanda Quimby about the two entities teaming to manage the Events Center with a goal of increasing usage to bring in more revenue from rentals.
But before making a decision, both entities have agreed to wait until after the March 25 alcohol referendum election.
There are five alcohol referendums on the March 25 ballot, three that are currently allowed in propositions 1, 2 and 5.
It’s Proposition No. 3, not currently allowed in Ruston city limits, that is the crux behind the plan of that potential team-up between the LPL Board of Control and the CVB to manage the LPL Events Center.
If Proposition 3 passes, it would allow the sale of beverage alcohol containing one-half of 1% alcohol by volume and above for consumption on the premises in the city, meaning that with other building usage guidelines being amended, such alcohol sales could be allowed during private parties being held at the Events Center.
The hopes of the CVB, and the LPL Board of Control, is that such an ordinance change could result in a significant increase in rentals at the Event Center.
“We’ve continued talking with the CVB, and hopefully the election will go in such a way that we’ll be able to move forward with a plan to share management of the Events Center in hopes the CVB can help bring in more usage of the building,” Jones said.
During January’s meeting, Jones said the main thing agreed on before any decision is made is that such an agreement should be made for only one year in order to see how the partnership would work out for both entities.
Jones also talked to fellow board members about House Bill 25 and Senate Bill 7, which have been prefiled before the start of the upcoming state legislative session that begins on April 10.
During a special meeting held earlier this month, the Board of Control voted to oppose and request amendments to those two bills.
Jones’ concerns are that as it stands now, HB 25 reads that Board members would serve at the pleasure of the governing authority, which, in the library’s case, is the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, meaning the LPPJ could remove any or all Board members at any time, for any reason or no reason and that Board members could continue serving unlimited terms.
Another of Jones’ concerns is that if passed as they currently read, police juries would have the ability to regulate and oversee the Board, its officers, employees and the library itself and that the LPL Board of Control could not go against any ordinance the police jury should choose to enact, even those involving the library and Events Center.
“In their current form, these bills would seriously damage our library as well as every other public library in the state,” Jones said.
Jones said he’s moving proactively to try and keep that from happening, saying that he has meetings scheduled with state Rep. Chris Turner, state Sen. Jay Morris and state Sen. Stewart Cathey to express his views and concerns regarding the potential legislation.
“This is all unfortunate because the library and Lincoln Parish Police Jury have had a great relationship for more than 50 years,” Jones said. “I’ll have a better feel about what it all could mean and what direction it might be headed once I talk to our legislators.”
During his reports to the Board, LPL Director Jeremy Bolom told members that the library has already received $850 from 16 memorial donations made at the request of the family of John Chris Stephenson following his death.
Bolom also told the Board that foot traffic at the LPL continues to increase after seeing a major dropoff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Nearly 3,300 signatures: that was the number of Ruston citizens who signed a petition to decide on expanding alcohol sales to grocery retailers last fall.
The signatures met the 2454 minimum requirement and now gives the opportunity for citizens to vote on five propositions in the upcoming election on March 25.
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker held a town hall meeting last night to open the floor for questions and comments concerning the propositions. Despite the pre-meeting publicity surrounding the event, only an estimated 40 to 50 residents showed up for the meeting.
The five state required alcohol propositions listed at the meeting are:
Proposition 1 – CURRENTLY ALLOWED (Passed in 2002) Grocery/convenience stores will continue to be allowed to sell low-alcohol beverages.
Proposition 2 – CURRENTLY ALLOWED (Passed in 2002) Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than 6% alcohol by volume for consumption on the premises in the city.
Proposition 3 – NOT CURRENTLY ALLOWED Authority to sell beverage alcohol containing one-half of 1% alcohol by volume and above for consumption on the premises in the city.
Proposition 4 – NOT CURRENTLY ALLOWED Retail stores* will be allowed to sell packaged high-alcohol content beverages only for off-site consumption. (*over 15,000 square feet)
Proposition 5 – CURRENTLY ALLOWED (Passed in 2002) Restaurants will continue to be allowed to sell both high and low-alcohol beverages.
Walker was also joined with City Attorney Bill Carter and Planning and Zoning Director Jim Hayes to introduce a new zoning plan.
The plan requires that any stand-alone bar to be constructed in Ruston must be 1,320 feet from another.
“Truly, in the entire city of Ruston, you could have three, maybe four, bars if they are strategically placed,” said Walker. “I don’t believe we will have any [bars] if this passes. But the guidelines are in place to prevent it.”
Walker detailed the possible figures for sales income to lie between $1.5 million to $1.6 million a year from liquor sales if the propositions were to pass.
The number was derived from the southern city of Pineville, which enacted the same propositions in 2018.
From 2018, Pineville received $1.2 million in sales tax income and in 2019, the income was raised to $2.298 million. 2021 profited a total of $2.68 million for Pineville.Walker outlined the process in which he and his team formed the sales income expected from the propositions passing.
“Their number showed (an)…increase each year from before they had sales in stores,” said Walker, “So, I took that and did an average based on their population, and our population which is where we got our $1.5 number.”
Harriet Jones, a Ruston citizen, spoke out about the high amount of revenue that businesses profit from liquor sales.
“It seems like to me, if there was that much money that we make in liquor sales, then the person that owns the package store would be sailing off in a yacht,” said Jones.
Restaurants are required to have 50% of their products be nonalcoholic to have an “R” permit.
“We have 19 restaurants with bars in them. The competition is just too strong for stand-alone bars, in my opinion,” said Walker. “If we have not put that rule in place, then every convenience store in our city could be a package liquor store.”
Restaurants that would be affected if the propositions did not pass would be Utility Brewing, Log Cabin, Dawghouse and most to all Mexican restaurants.
Challenges appeared as some citizens received conflicting messages about the petition.
With misinformation being spread, others expressed worry that some Ruston citizens may not show up to the polls.
However, Bill Campbell, a Ruston citizen, felt that the alcohol propositions could be a good thing.
“I think that the people who live here have the right to vote,” said Campbell. “I don’t think we want people telling us ‘We don’t like this’ or ‘We don’t favor this’, so ‘You can’t have it either.’ That is not right.”
While citizens spoke up, Walker stated that he and his team were comfortable with the zoning strategies in place.
“We have the strongest regulations of any city in the state as far as package stores and bars. We want to be sure to keep our city like it is,” said Walker.
The election date is set to March 25 and early voting takes place through Saturday. Ruston citizens can vote yes or no to any or all of the alcohol propositions.
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Grambling State University Police arrested a 21-year-old Shreveport man Wednesday on drug and gun charges after he ran from officers conducting an investigation.
Carl H. Little, II, was seen leaving Jones Hall, a campus dorm, wearing a backpack and entering a car police detectives had already determined was the source of a strong marijuana odor. While police were talking with the car’s occupants, they noticed Little making furtive movements in the backseat. He was asked to step out of the car.
Little exited the car still wearing the backpack. He was directed to stand behind the car but instead, walked away, saying he needed to go to his car. He ignored several commands to stop and began running away.
Little was chased into Jones Hall where he ran up to the third floor, climbed over a guard rail, threw the backpack and jumped to the second floor. He was apprehended on the first floor and the backpack was retrieved from a tree.
Inside the backpack, officers found bags of marijuana and a loaded Glock 23 9mm pistol with an extended magazine, and cash.
Additional marijuana was found in the car where Little had been sitting.
While Little was being questioned at the GSU Police station, his phone received text message on his screen asking, “Hey, can I get a 5?” Further check of the revealed several text messages asking for narcotics.
Little was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in a school zone, illegal possession of a firearm on a school campus, possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled substance, resisting an officer, and obstruction of justice.
GSU asked that Little be barred from the campus as a condition of his bail. His bail was set at $200,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video 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.
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A Ruston woman was arrested at a Bonita Street residence after she refused numerous directions to leave the property.
Jyone Cottingham, 33, had reportedly been causing a disturbance at the location. Cottingham told officers she had been attempting to gather her belongings and leave the house all day. She stated she had been given permission to stay there. That individual told officers Cottingham needed to leave.
Officers remained on the scene as Cottingham gathered her belongings. After about 30 minutes, Cottingham had made little progress in collecting her belongings. She was given warnings in repeated attempts to encourage her to leave.
Officers eventually told her to move to the edge of the street and let others gather her belongings and bring them to her. She was given over 30 warnings to stay off the property. She was given all her packed belongings and told the rest would be moved to the street. She was told she was banned from the property and could not return. When she stepped back on the property and attempted to go into the house, she was placed under arrest.
Cottingham reportedly resisted officers’ attempts to handcuff her. She was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for remaining on premises when forbidden (trespass) and resisting an officer.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video 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.
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It’s March. Which means it’s time for the madness.
Day 1 of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament saw upsets, buzzer beaters and beat downs that are typical of the greatest sporting event of the year.
It also saw the start to the $1,000 winner-take-all Karl Malone Toyota Bracket Contest presented by Martin Presence.
One lucky participant will win a grand when the dust settles in early April and the 2023 national champion is crowned.
It will be one shining moment in more ways than one.
The field of 68 was announced Sunday night and the road to the Final Four began this week.
Notice: Just one winner of the $1,000.00. The Rules can change without notice. The contest can be canceled without notice to participants. Not responsible for any technical failures. All decisions by Management are final. If you have any questions or feedback, please send an email to: LPJNewsLa@gmail.com
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There are some things that happen to me that I can’t figure out how to work into a sermon. They are illustrative and funny but decorum would suggest they are better suited for other media than for the pulpit. I have a much different purpose here than I have on Sunday morning. Although I should warn you that one of my favorite books is Elton Trueblood’s The Humor of Christ. I don’t believe that preaching should bore you into a state of utter mind-numbing confusion, so I tend to use humor when I preach. But this one I can’t work into a sermon, not yet anyway. I will tell you the story if you promise not to tell anyone at Trinity in Ruston that I wrote this, ok?
Here goes.
I was having a medical procedure done a while ago. It was one of those things that you had to spend the day before “getting your system cleaned out for the test.” There is a whole comedy routine on the cleansing process, but I will spare you that.
I showed up all cleansed for the test and the nice nurse got me all “prepped.” In other words, she gave me a blanket and told me to create some “southern exposure.” There I am not very clothed, except for my sweatshirt and she proceeds to give me “controlled substances.” The test went off without a hitch. On that day, I was “clean as a whistle.” It was what happened after the test that has me snickering.
Have you been in a darkened room with a woman to whom you are not married and she says, “Preacher, I have your jeans around your ankles but you will have to pull them the rest of the way up?” I didn’t think so! Last December it happened to me. I remember thinking; I have never heard anyone say that to me before!
The event has no theological purpose, nor can I make a great sermon illustration of out if. It is simply something that you don’t hear said to you every day as a preacher.
I wanted to share the joy by sharing the strange thing said to me in that darkened room. It was really no stranger than for some of you to say, “Preacher, I’ll see you in church on Sunday.” That would make me really smile!
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Not only did Louisiana Tech’s future foresters host the 64th Association of Southern Forestry Clubs (ASFC) Conclave this weekend at Lincoln Parish Park, they also competed and finished a solid third overall against 12 other teams.
An annual event that draws schools from across the Southeast to compete in forestry-related physical and technical events, the Conclave is hosted by a different school each year and helps students develop team building, camaraderie, and social skills through diverse competition and lumberjack contests.
Tech finished third to SFA and Mississippi State in Technical Events, fourth to SFA, Clemson, and Virginia Tech in Physical Events, and a strong third overall to champion SFA and runner-up Clemson in Total Overall, the culmination of a weekend that “went spectacularly,” Forestry Program Chair in Tech’s College of Applied and Natural Sciences Dr. Joshua Adams said.
The weather was perfect for Tech to host the event for its first time in 17 years.
Also notable was the addition of a large job/company fair on Thursday. Many of Tech’s forestry program sponsors brought their corporate executives to watch and mingle with the students.
“Specifically to Tech, our students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the program pulled together over the past year to pull this off,” Adams said. “The most praise should be given to the students who really ran the show with faculty supporting and guiding them. Tech should be proud of these young men and women; it points to a bright future for Tech Forestry.”
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Louisiana Tech opens Conference USA action this weekend hosting Charlotte in a three-game series at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
Today’s first pitch is set for 6 p.m. followed by Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.). The games can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 97.7 FM and the LA Tech Athletics app.
The Bulldogs (9-8) are coming off a midweek split with Air Force. The two games were the complete opposite on the mound as LA Tech recorded its first shutout of the season in game one with four pitchers combining for 17 strikeouts in route to a 5-0 victory. In game two, the Bulldogs gave up 13 hits and allowed nine freebies in a 12-10 loss to the Falcons.
Charlotte (6-10) enters the weekend having lost two straight and six of its last seven (four of those defeats came against top-25 opponents in Virginia Tech and North Carolina). They have yet to win on the road this season, dropping all four away from home.
Four 49ers – Jack Dragum, Austin Knight, Jake Cunningham, and Cam Fisher – made the preseason All-Conference USA team. Fisher has been the best 49er thus far, batting .368 with an OPS of 1.438. He has recorded 21 hits with 10 of those leaving the yard (the 10 home runs ranks third in the country). Pitching wise, Wyatt Hudepohl has made four starts, having thrown a team-high 23.1 innings.
LA Tech begins its ninth season of C-USA baseball (2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19). This will be the seventh series meeting between LA Tech and Charlotte. The 49ers own a 13-8 edge in the series, but the Bulldogs have won four of the last five meetings.
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Lady Techsters Softball
The Lady Techsters travels to Miami for their first road conference series of the season when they visit FIU for a three-game series starting tonight.
First pitch is 5 p.m. CT tonight and then a Saturday doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT. The games can be heard through the Listen Live link on the 2023 schedule page. It can also be seen through a paid subscription to CUSATV.com.
Louisiana Tech (16-8, 1-2) is coming off a dominant 5-0 win over Northwestern State on March 14. Mary Martinez (3 inn.), Brook Melnychuk (3 inn.), and Alyssa Martin (1 inn.) combined for a three-hit shutout. While Amanda Gonzalez recorded her 30th career multi-hit game with two hits in the ballgame.
First baseman Jordyn Manning and centerfielder Sierra Sacco are on five-game hitting streaks.
Pitching has played a vital role this season for the Lady Techsters, as they hold a team ERA of 1.72. Mary Martinez leads the Techsters in the circle with a 5-1 record and 1.15 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. Allie Floyd leads Tech in innings thrown with 52.2 while owning a 1.73 ERA and a team-best .93 WHIP (walk hits per inning).
Emma Hutchinson has been dominant against left-handed hitters this season, as opposing lefties are batting just .140 against her. The Lady Techster staff has been phenomenal at escaping jams this season. Opposing hitters are 0-14 against them with the bases loaded and batting .199 with runners in scoring position.
Right fielder Kylie Neel leads LA Tech with a .357 batting average, including 25 hits, while recording five doubles, 23 RBI, 17 runs scored, and 10 walks. Her 23 RBI rank fourth among all Conference USA players.
The Panthers (14-13, 1-2) are coming off a 1-2 weekend in their opening series of conference play at Charlotte.
Isabella Perez leads FIU at the plate with a .344 batting average and 16 RBI. Ashton Landsell leads the Panthers in home runs and total bases with five and 45, respectively.
In the circle, they are led by Megan Kruger, who is 5-2 with a 1.70 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in 37 innings pitched.
Louisiana Tech and FIU have met 26 times, with the Panthers leading the all-time series, 16-10.
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Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Friday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Spring break for Lincoln Parish Schools 5:30 p.m.: Ruston Beer Crawl (downtown Ruston) 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball v. Charlotte
Saturday, March 18 7:30 a.m.: KD Shamrock Run (Lincoln Parish Park) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 2 p.m.: LA Tech baseball v. Charlotte
Sunday, March 19 1 p.m.: LA Tech baseball v. Charlotte
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Early voting on expanding alcohol sales in the city of Ruston will end Saturday with the election taking place March 25.
A petition last fall garnered enough signatures to solicit a vote on five propositions.
Early voting through Saturday, March 18 is from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Only voters registered inside the City of Ruston are eligible to vote in this election.
In October of last year, nearly 3,300 signatures were collected to petition the city of Ruston to add a vote on March 25, 2023, for residents to decide on expanding alcohol sales to grocery retailers within the city limits.
For more information about the propositions and the timeline of the election, click HERE.
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Description: Responsible for assembly of food items of customers (physicians, employees, visitors, patients, and patient family members) via the serving line. Responsible for sanitation of work area and equipment. Population served: Members of the Dietary department interact with all ages of visitors and patients within the hospital as well as Inpatients with specific dietary needs.
Benefits: Competitive salaries, 401k, benefits
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Description: The Case Manager is responsible to assist in the development, planning, coordination and administration of the activities of utilization review, discharge planning and resource utilization. Job responsibilities include but are not limited to daily review of medical records to determine appropriateness and medical necessity of admission, continued hospital stay and use of resources and discharge readiness. Requires physical stamina and emotional stability.
Population served: All patient populations within the facility requiring review of patient care services and discharge planning.
Benefits: Competitive salaries, 401k, benefits
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This is a paid Job Posting
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Jean Haire Hays Date of Death: March 11, 2023 Visitation: Temple Baptist Church Chapel, Friday, March 17, 2023, 10:00 am – 11:00 am Service: Temple Baptist Church Chapel, Friday, March 17, 2023, 11:00 am Cemetery: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Garden, Friday, March 17, 2023
Latonia Moore Saturday 04/21/1984 — Tuesday 03/07/2023 Age: 38 Visitation: Friday 03/17/2023 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 03/18/2023 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Saturday 03/18/2023, China Grove Cemetery, 699 Mondy Road, Grambling
Rosie Lee Rice May 17, 1932 – March 7, 2023 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Friday, March 17, 2023, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Friday, March 17, 2023, 1:00 pm Cemetery: Ebenezer Cemetery, Friday, March 17, 2023
Lonnie Davis Sunday 10/09/1938 — Sunday 03/12/2023 Visitation: Friday 03/17/2023 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/18/2023 , 11:00am at Zion Traveler Baptist Church, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston Interment: Saturday 03/18/2023, Woods Chapel Baptist Church, 326 Par Rd 454, Ruston
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Ruston residents are invited to a “Townhall Meeting” tonight at the Civic Center as Ruston mayor Ronny Walker will answer the public’s questions in regards to the upcoming vote on the five alcohol propositions.
Walker will join City of Ruston Attorney Bill Carter and Planning and Zoning Director Jim Hayes at the Civic Center for the Q&A which begins at 6 p.m.
“I will answer any questions asked,” said Walker. “I feel like if a citizen is going to take time to come to a meeting and have a question, then we should answer it. The citizens deserve that in my opinion. If somebody wants to talk about this, then I want to talk to them.”
There are five alcohol referendums on the March 25 ballot, three that are currently allowed in propositions 1, 2 and 5.
Below are the propositions that registered voters in the City of Ruston will be voting on during the upcoming election.
Proposition No. 1 – CURRENTLY ALLOWED (Passed in 2002)
Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than 6% alcohol by volume by package only and not for consumption on the premises in the city.
Proposition No. 2 – CURRENTLY ALLOWED (Passed in 2002)
Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than 6% alcohol by volume for consumption on the premises in the city.
Proposition No. 3 – NOT CURRENTLY ALLOWED
Authority to sell beverage alcohol containing one-half of 1% alcohol by volume and above for consumption on the premises in the city.
Proposition No. 4 – NOT CURRENTLY ALLOWED
Authority to sell beverage containing one half of 1% alcohol by volume and above by package only and not for consumption on the premises in the city.
Proposition No. 5 – CURRENTLY ALLOWED (Passed in 2002)
Authority to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content permitted only on the premises of restaurant establishments which have been issued an “R” permit as defined by law in the city.
Walker said he wants to make sure voters are well educated on what is what when it comes to all five propositions.
“We will have everyone from planning and zone to legal to myself to try to get some clarity to the liquor (propositions),” said Walker. “It has gotten so confusing to so many people. There is a lot of inaccurate information out there. We need people to show up so we can clarify it and have it come from the horses mouth.
“If you want to keep Ruston Ruston, then you need to vote yes on Number 1, 2 and 5. Bottom line if you want everything like it is today. If you want everything like it is today but you also want to go to the grocery story and pick up a bottle of wine or a bottle of Jack Daniels, then you need to vote (yes) to Number 1, 2, 4 and 5.”
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The National Weather Service advises that severe weather could be materializing across the south, including northwest Louisiana today and especially tonight through the overnight hours.
Lincoln Parish is located within the slight to marginal risk area based on latest reports. Stay tuned to weather apps for the latest updated reports.
Large hail will initially be possible across the region as early as late morning through the afternoon hours. Later during late afternoon, evening and overnight hours there will be an increased damaging winds and isolated tornado threat as well.
Excessive heavy rainfall of one to two inches with isolated higher amounts could pose a flash flood risk as well, especially across flood prone and poor drainage areas.
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The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a Jonesboro man for theft and trespassing on Harrison Road Saturday evening.
A woman reported Dale Franklin Bush, 37, rode onto her property with a four-wheeler and walked up on her porch. Bush had previously been told to stay off the property. Bush was located on and advised of his rights. He admitted going on to the property but said he did not mean to scare the woman.
The Honda 4-wheel ATV Bush had in his possession was reported stolen on Fraser Road.
Earlier in the day, Bush had been issued citations for criminal trespass and damage to property.
He was arrested for felony theft of the ATV and criminal trespass and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video 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.
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A reception is held in the Boulware IDEA Place by Dean Schillinger to recognize a new endowment in the College of Education. The J.J. and Pat Stapleton Endowed Scholarship ensures success in students who are committed to enhancing the field of teaching, especially future teachers who exemplify outstanding literacy instruction. Catherine Miller, 2023-24 scholarship recipient, will use the scholarship to help shape young minds in literacy education and help other young educators become passionate about literacy as she is. Photograph by Emerald McIntyre/Louisiana Tech University
The College of Education is important to the Stapleton family. J.J. and Pat Stapleton always valued education, and now their family has established an endowed scholarship in the College of Education to honor their commitment.
“Due to a severe case of childhood polio, our dad couldn’t read or write very well,” said their son, Jimmie Stapleton. “However, that did not stop him from having a full life. He showed us with his actions what was really important, faith, family, and education.” Though J.J. passed away, Pat continues to live by their motto every day. After living in Baton Rouge, where they started their family, the Stapletons eventually moved to Ruston after retirement to be closer to friends and family.
“We are very grateful to the Stapleton family for their generous donation to support Louisiana students committed to excellence in teaching, especially future teachers who exemplify outstanding literacy instruction,” said Dr. Donald Schillinger, Dean of the College of Education. “Endowed scholarships like the J.J. and Pat Stapleton Endowed Scholarship ensure that support for deserving students will always be available. That is an incredible gift to the future of education and a wonderful example of paying it forward.”
A qualified student must be enrolled as a full-time or part-time undergraduate student, sophomore or above, in a teacher education program, preferably focused on literacy. The student may also graduate from a high school in Louisiana or Mississippi, work ten or more hours per week and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Catherine Miller is the 2023-2024 scholarship recipient of the J.J. and Pat Stapleton Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship will allow her to help shape young minds in literacy education and help other young educators become passionate about literacy as she is.
“It is our job as educators to help our students reach their highest ability while creating memorable experiences for them. It is also critical that we support the families of these children in our community so we can work together to ensure success, ” said Miller.
“This scholarship is a way for us to honor our mom and dad and ensure that their legacy lives on in the lives of others for years to come,” Jimmie Stapleton said. “As Dad would say, ‘Get your education. That’s something that no one can take away from you.’”
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A Ruston man was arrested Thursday after he allegedly damaged to his mother’s residence.
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office was called to the Green Leaf Mobile Home Park on U. S. 80 east of Ruston about 11:00 p.m. Thursday night. The complainant said her son had recently had been banned recently from returning to the residence.
LPSO records showed that Dekedrick Mardis, 29, had been banned from the residence on March 5 following a disturbance. The woman said it took her an hour to get Mardis outside the residence and that is when he took a rim off the front porch and used it to damage the front door.
Deputies found Mardis outside the residence and placed him under arrest. He was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for criminal damage to property and remaining after being forbidden (trespass).
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video 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.
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An Arcadia man was arrested for his second DWI in two years early Sunday morning.
A Louisiana State Police trooper observed a Honda Accord traveling east on the South Service Road toward Tech Drive. The vehicle was weaving outside of its lane.
After the Honda was stopped on Tech Drive, Rodney J. Baker, 37, was found to be the driver. The trooper saw obvious signs of impairment and Baker immediately stated he would give the trooper $2000 to go away, according to an arrest affidavit. Baker displayed slurred speech, slow reactions, and a strong older of alcoholic beverage on his breath. He performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest.
At the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, he submitted to a breath test with a result of 0.136g%. A records check showed Baker had a previous DWI in 2022 and his driver’s license was under suspension.
Baker was booked for second offense DWI, improper lane usage, and driving under suspension.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video 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.
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